FAQ
When can I start my activities?
Can I do more than one section at a time?
How do I record my activities?
How do I log onto eDofE?
When will I get my eDofE account and Welcome pack?
I'm having trouble logging in for the first time?
Who can I use for my assessor?
What can I do for the Volunteering, Physical or Skills section?
I don't know my assessor's email or phone number?
How do I get my assessor to submit an assessors report?
How many in an expedition group?
When is my expedition?
Why hasn’t my activity been approved?
What equipment do I need for expedition?
How do I set up and link an OS maps account to eDofE.
How do I know which sections have been approved?
When can I start my activities?
From 1st September - (Bronze, y9), (Silver y10)
Gold – from your 16th Birthday
Can I do more than one section at a time?
You can work on sections one at a time or concurrently, or stagger starts to fit into your busy schedules.
Students who aren't 14 yet may wish to wait till 14th birthday before starting their Volunteering as lots of places may not accept you until you are 14.
The aim however is to finish the Volunteering, Physical and Skill sections before going on the qualifying expedition in May / June. (Bronze and Silver)
How do I record my activities?
Keep a record of the dates you attend either on paper or online e.g. word document or excel spreadsheet
Make a note of what you have done at the session just in case
All these can be added as notes on eDofE
Upload pictures of the activities as supporting evidence. (especially if you are cooking, using an app to record runs/ bike ride etc)
Do not get your assessor to add a note in your account this will not be accepted as an assessors report (see below)
Watch this video to help you
How do I log onto eDofE?
When will I get my eDofE account and Welcome pack?
Check your school email address for a welcome email and after 3 weeks of logging in to eDofE for the first time, a Welcome pack should then arrive at your home address in the post! (assuming you put in the correct postcode!)
I'm having trouble logging in for the first time?
Once your parents have made the payment on ParentPay an account will be set up for you using your school email address. Check for a welcome email in here with your username and password. If you cant access your school email please visit the IT team (upstairs in MFL block) to get you set up.
Who can I use for my assessor?
Anyone over 18, who is not related to you AND has an area of interest or expertise
e.g. Physical section -PE teacher, Volunteering - the person you are helping but not a relative
Teachers and Form tutors are always happy to help be assessors - Please ask them BEFORE you start
If in doubt check with a DofE Leader
What can I do for the Volunteering, Physical or Skills section?
Go to the DofE website for ideas
Or have a look at the following:
I don't know my assessor's email or phone number?
This is a non-compulsory field so submit sections for approval with those fields empty
How do I get my assessor to submit an assessors report?
Ask them to go to the Assessor Portal
Give them your eDofE ID number - this can be found on the top left hand side when you log into eDofE
Share with them the following "How to " guidance document and "what a report should consist of" document.
How many in an expedition group?
Group sizes of 7.
The aim is for students to get themselves into either a group of 3 or a group of 4.
We will then put a group 3 and a group of 4 together to make up a group of 7.
(Sometimes groups of 5 and 6 will be made but when we have large numbers at Bronze and Silver we try to minimise the number of groups.)
When is my expedition?
Check out the dates on the expedition page or calendar
Why hasn’t my activity been approved?
Leaders are all volunteers it may take them some time to log on and check give it a couple of weeks - in the meantime check the notifications on eDofE – if a section or piece of evidence has been queried you will have a message from the person who queried it with a reason.
The usual reasons are:
Time commitment not 1 hour per week for 13 weeks (3 months)
Time commitment not 1 hour per week for 26 weeks (6 months)
Time commitment not 1 hour per week for 52 weeks (12 months)
Time commitment not 1 hour per week for 78 weeks (18 months)
Assessor is related to you
The activity chosen doesn't meet the requirements for tat section e.g. a sport in the skill section or working for a company in the volunteering section
The assessor hasn’t written about what you achieved
The name of the assessor doesn’t match the name on your plan – in this case please revert to draft amend the plan and resubmit
The assessor report has been uploaded incorrectly
The assessors reports must be written on the record book sent home, photographed with ALL details completed OR
The assessor goes to www.edofe.org/assessor and uses your eDofE ID to register your report
What equipment do I need for expedition?
Kit list can be found here
How do I set up and link an OS maps account to eDofE.
Please read through the set up guide here.
Watch the video of how to plan a route here.
Full list of DofE Video's can be found here.
How do I know which sections have been approved?
You can now see your achievements on eDofE. Please log on and go to the tab "My achievements" and it ill show you hat sectional certificates you have and whether you have completed your hole award. If you click on completed certificates you also have the option to download and print a copy of the certificate.
