how important is DofE?

[DorothyL]

To give context -dd in year 10, quite academic, on course to get very good results at gcse. Plays two instruments and part of an orchestra inside and outside of school.

She could do DofE in the next 12 months but is quite reluctant - how much should I push her to do it?

If she doesn't want to do it, don't push her.

It's a big commitment if it's something she doesn't want to do!
Sounds like she's already got quite a lot on.

I agree, don't push her. Yes, it's a good thing to do and shows she's a well rounded person, but there are loads of other things that are good to do and show roundness.

She already plays music, which is a well-rounded sort of thing. Does she do anything else? Sport? Volunteer? If so then I can't see what d of e would add other than extra stress.

What are you thinking she will get out of it that she doesn't do already? Why is she reluctant?

I don't think doing the Duke of Edinburgh award in itself is at all important, but the things included in it are important, yes. Obviously she doesn't need an award structure to do a Hobby, but what about some kind of voluntary service or adventure/expedition? or combine the two?

Is this through school or independently?

I would encourage her to try. She can probably use her orchestra time for one of the sections.

I don't think it is that expensive that if she goes along and quits that you will be massively out of pocket.

DofE was the single best thing I have ever done and was life changing for me as a teen. Well worth the effort (and it is an effort, they don't come for free) but she has to want to do it.

I've always thought it sounded like my idea of hell.

There is no way I'd push either of my two to do it.

Important for what?

She doesn't do or want to do any sport (other than her own thing like running). She would be happy to volunteer but doesn't really know where to start.

Important for her future, for her cv?

In general I would say now as an adult that people should try volunteering in areas they enjoy, whereas as a child heavily influenced by rather too much Christianity I would have said that I should do voluntary work that scared me or which was something I would hate to do. So I always ended up not signing up or ducking out of it because I'd asked about things that seemed completely beyond me.

This website for vinspired looks good. (Disclaimer: I know nothing about the organisation).

I didn't do it (the teachers stopped doing it due to people wanting hairdryers and stuff on the expedition). I still went to a red brick uni and got a first class degree. Nobody has ever asked me about it.

If she fancies volunteering at all (for d of e or not) how about Brownie's, guides, cubs, etc, or a charity shop or animal rescue? My DD helps at an orchestra for younger children, she loves it.

It's fun for them, but not important for your average UCAS application.

My ds enjoys the expedition side of it.

As someone who reads CV's I would only take notice of D of E if it was a bit unusual eg talked about something specific.

I'd be more inclined to be impressed by sonething independently organised or relevant to someone's individual interests/talents.

My dtds (now in Year 12, lower sixth, age 17) have done it up to Silver. All their mates did it too, and the fact that all the mates have also decided to drop it to concentrate on their AS's and A levels has been a big part of their decision to stop.

Independent volunteering should have just as good an effect on your dds CV as a DofE.

I do think DofE is a Good Thing, it can help kick start teenagers who really weren't sure about what they were up to, but it is not and shouldn't be a necessary stage of every young persons' life.

Just so long as people realise that stuff like this has absolutely no impact at all on UCAS forms.

I think these days most people reading CVs, personal statements and the like have now wised up to the fact that most young people do it because it might look good, not because they enjoy it. Agree that something organised under your own steam would be more impressive.

Actually, my DD completed her DoE to gold last year. Initially she was reluctant, i persuaded her and what a good thing it was too. She was an academic shy person but doing the DoE helped her to mature. It did add much to her personal statement on its own, but the fact that it developed her leadership skills mto the extent that she was selected to do the DoE young leader scheme did!

You never know where it will lead, in our house we have a give it a go, and a fair chance policy.

Also, just to add the kids who already do lots of extra curricular stuff are the ones who find it easiest to complete the scheme.

Also I can't be the only potential employer out there who hasn't noticed that every single child from the public schools has done DofE up to Gold as it's part of the curriculum? I'm much more interested in what a person chooses to do themselves, not what their school and parents choose for them.

I got a husband out of it. And a trip to meet prince Edward. No ucas or CV value though

PeaceandlOve if your dd applied to work with us, I think we'd assess her DofE in its own right. Unless she's come from one of the well known public schools, we'd assume she'd chosen to do herself and respect her achievement in its own right.

Even if she came from one of the well known public schools we'll still look.

It's great for some kids but not for others. Doing it for UCAS is nuts.

My dd's school didn't offer it until 6th form & then she changed for 6th form... She did voluntary work that she arranged herself (not through altruism, was required for her uni application!)

Ds could do DofE at school but has chosen not to. He goes to scouts so may do it through that route but it will be his choice.

It sounds like she has plenty on her plate at the moment. Maybe instead she should think about NCS in the summer after GCSEs.

Hi Alpaca, no, not Public School, a very middle of the road, needs improvement,school. But, what it lacks in academics,is made up for in pastoral care and old fashioned giving students new experiences.

My point is that soemtimes kids dont know they will enjoy something until they try. My DD obtsined new friends and confidence from DoE but when I was persauding her it was because i knew she could enjoy the experience. The question I would ask is, "does my child enjoy being outside, are they able to include other stuff that will count towards the skill, team and volunteering? It doesnt have to be that onerous.

Oh my word, my spelling! I blame the ipad!