Duke of Edinburgh's Award has Positive Impact on Student Wellbeing
We are proud to have a really successful Duke of Edinburgh centre here at Cowes Enterprise College. We support students through all levels of the award and provide a wealth of opportunities for physical, volunteering and skills sections. We also provide a rigorous expedition training programme before any student-led activities take place.
As a school, we recognise the physical and mental health benefits for completing the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
The National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) conduced a survey of participants views have produced a report showing what participants on Duke of Edinburgh award programmes feel about their award. I have given some summary points below:
- 62% of the participants said they felt more confident in overcoming difficult situations.
- 75% of the participants said the D of E was fun and enjoyable.
- 78% said the award enhanced their CV and UCAS applications.
- 61% said they were more independent as a result of completing their award.
Can participation in the DofE improve young people’s self-reported wellbeing?
That was the question that drove the development of our DofE/NFER survey. The findings illustrate that many young people experience improvements in three key areas of wellbeing as a result of doing their DofE.
- The DofE has a positive impact on young people’s general wellbeing – respondents noted that they had fun, made new friends, faced new challenges and believed that the DofE improved their education and employment prospects.
- The DofE has a positive impact on young people’s confidence and resilience – the survey revealed that many respondents are more confident in difficult situations, had the opportunity to face new challenges and feel more independent and responsible.
- The DofE has a positive impact on young people’s communication, teamwork and leadership skills – respondents said they learnt how to work with others to solve problems, felt more confident about speaking to people they do not know well and now understood how to take responsibility for others.
