Duke of Ed @ Schols

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award is an extra-curricular award program offered to Years 9 - Year 12 students at Schols and is an opportunity for students to build their teamwork and communication skills, as well as harness self-confidence and challenge themselves. 

There are three levels to the Award: Bronze, Silver & Gold. 

There is a fee to participate in the Award (please see bottom of page). 

What's Involved?

Each Award level has four components (except Gold). Participants must do an activity in each of the four sections below:

• Volunteer Service

• Physical Recreation

• Skills

• Adventurous Journey (Bronze/Silver dates booked by School)

You will need to do an activity in each section (except the Journey) for a minimum amount of time (13 weeks) for an average of 1 hour a week at Bronze.

You will need to dedicate a minimum of 26 weeks to a Major Section - either Volunteer Service, Physical Recreation or Skills. 

 Journey Dates for 2024

Bronze Journey Dates 

Bronze Practice Expedition: 15 - 16 April 2024

Bronze Qualifying Expedition: 10 - 11 Oct 2024

 (Practice Hike Equipment Pick Up date: 12 April at Schols)

These dates fall in the school holidays

Silver Journey Dates 

Silver Training (compulsory): date pending (2 hours after school)

Silver Practice Expedition: 22 - 24 April 2024

Silver Qualifying Expedition:  9 - 11 October 2024

Compulsory Silver Training Session: 3:20pm-5:20pm, 12 April at Schols

 (Practice Hike Equipment Pick Up date: 12 April at Schols)

These hiking dates fall in the school holidays

Hired Equipment will be dropped off at Schols.

What if I am not available for one of the dates above?

A Practice and Qualifying Hike must be completed at Bronze, Silver and Gold. If you cannot attend a booked school  date listed above. There are two options, we can place you on a 2025 school hike, or we tee up as many of our Schols students as we can to participate in the same Open Hike together in the 2024 calendar year. 

What is an Open Hike?

​An Open Hike is not organised by the College, we recommend an affiliated hiking company and ask Schols students to be placed in one hiking group together but other students from other schools are also on this hike. No Schols staff is in attendance and students are to be dropped off and picked up at the location by a parent/carer. Equipment hire etc is organised by the parent/carer. 

The program will cost $900 for Bronze students & $1,000 for Silver students. To be paid to St Scholastica's College via the Sign Up page. The Award cannot be started unless payment is made.

Fee Breakdown

Please note that the $900 covers the Duke of Ed registration fee ($150 at Bronze), as well as the two camping trips that the school outsources, as well as administrative fees, coach hire fee and staffing. 

Registration closes 5 March 2024

Note that there are additional fees, including an Online Training Course that is required to complete the Journey section and will cost $35 for Bronze students.

Equipment hire for the Journey section (e.g. tent, rain jacket, cook set, sleeping mat etc) will cost up to $110 per student per Journey, note that there is a training Journey as well as a qualifying Journey and this equipment will need to be hired on both occasions. Equipment will be dropped off at Schols for the students. Of course, if students already have equipment, they can use this or purchase their own. Please go here to see the Equipment Hire List with costs.