Any DofE Coordinators out there?

[BellaBearisWideAwake]

I'm taking over the role next year. Is there a good forum for advice/asking stupid questions/general hand holding? Or could this be it?
Really excited but also slightly stressed at the amount of work involved!

I am involved in our school - not the actual coordinator but tend to do most of her job as she is a bit pants!! Ask any silly questions you want - currently on mat leave but still dipping in and out

Hello! No particular questions as yet, our coordinator now is brill so trying to make notes on everything this year for next. Oh here's a question: am I crazy? The payoff will be worth it, right?

I've just agreed to take it on next year.

I haven't talked about a payoff though. Do you mean financial?

I might just be a big mug as I don't think I'll be paid any extra.

I'm keen to know how much work it is, if anyone knows?

It depends on how your school approach it, tbh.

ds's school had a great 'Outdoor ed' teacher, who would sort the expeditions and such, and also a volunteer (ex-pupil) who is a qualified DofE assessor who helps out, so the co-ordinator's role would be much simpler. I'd say that was unusual though.

Most schools tend to register the pupils and then expect them to get on with the other sections apart from the expeditions, but I guess it will depend how much you want to monitor / follow up / nag them to get on with them.

Have you considered forming a partnership - for example with a local Scout Group or District, trading their expertise in things like map reading teaching, and how to pack a ruck sack and how to light a stove and how to put a tent up type training evenings, in exchange for you letting them borrow the school minibus at weekends sometimes, .... or something similar, to make you part of a wider team rather than a bit 'on your own' / doing it all yourself ?

I meant payoff in the sense of giving back, seeing kids do well, that sort of thing - definitely not financial!
It's the expeditions that I'm getting a bit wary of - so much admin and paperwork involved!

I'm hoping for a timetabled period rather than a bursary

If its in a timetabled period then our biggest problem may be overcome which is communication. We do ours as an extracurricular and rely on tutors to pass on messages.

Once you have seen the admin and paperwork trail through once it won't seem such a daunting task. All schools are slightly different on that side of things.

YOu do get to see a different side to the students which is a great payoff.

Yes I think one year through and it will all seem easier! I'll be happier once I have lists. Lists of tasks throughout the year, lists of things to take on expeditions, etc. I keep reminding myself it's all for a really good cause.

Have you done the e Intro to DofE module? Its worth doing as it gives you a good understanding of the whole award.

Do you do all three levels? We only really do Bronze, not enough staff to do silver and not the right qualifications for Gold!

There is a lot of info on the dofe website.

Yes I've done that and also the expedition superrvisor course. Need to do the whole day intro to dofe course although not sure what extra I will get from it given the supervisor course is based on having done it - also it doesn't run till after I take over round here but hey ho.

We do bronze and silver. This year's silver cohort want to do gold but I can see us running it without basically buying it in.

We're very lucky to have so many volunteers including two parents who are very involved in scouting. I've been helping for the past two years, but mainly group leader of edofe.org and only one expedition.

I think I'm on top of the official stuff and herts dofe is very helpful/ It's more the booking school minibus/printing out directions sheets./cooridnating parents to drop off for epeditions/organising who is going to be where and in what vehicle minutiae that is making me a bit wobbly!

Hand holding much appreciated btw x

Oh where abouts in Herts I live in Herts but teach in Essex

St Albans

I'm the other end in Stortford.

eDof\e is the bit I find the hardest - students seem reluctant to add anything!

Don't they?! Even though they are merrily volunteering and so on and getting the signatures but just not filling it in. And then when they do, you have to chase a phone number or email adress and then they have to RESUBMIT it and oh my goodness if I added up all the minutes

We chase until they leave yr 11 so a year after but so many miss out! I am chasing whilst on Mat leave at the moment!

We don't let them come on the expedition if they are not up to date on edofe

That was the supposed plan but main coordinator was rubbish at following through!

OK, then ask in a staff meeting if there is someone who might help you with the paperwork / bookings side of it - Emphasise that you feel comfortable to do the outdoor stuff and the meetings and the camping etc and you don't expect them to do any of that, but wonder if someone might help out with the admin.

Honestly, I am happy to do it, just a bit scared about it the first time. Thanks for all your suggestions though, much appreciated. I actuially have admin support, which is great.