Another Year with DOFE: Strong Participation and Three Gold Expeditions

The DofE programme has long been firmly rooted in our school and remains an integral part of life for many upper-school students. Each year, nearly ten of our teachers and boarding staff take on the role of leaders, watching students embrace the challenges of the programme, set their own goals, and discover abilities they often never knew they had. This year, however, was truly exceptional — not only in terms of participation.

A total of 75 students enrolled in the programme, more than in previous years. Twenty-five participants are currently working toward the Bronze Award, twenty-nine toward Silver, and an impressive twenty-one toward Gold. Interest in DofE remains high this school year, once again confirming that it is a programme that not only motivates but genuinely engages students and supports their long-term personal growth.

What makes this year stand out most is the unusually large number of students pursuing the Gold Award. Over the summer, we managed to carry out three Gold expeditions — a rare achievement in the long history of the programme at our school. Two groups set off on hiking expeditions in the Alps: one in the Salzburg region, the other near Innsbruck. Both routes offered demanding mountain terrain, unpredictable conditions, and moments that required resilience, determination, and the will to push through.

The third Gold group chose an entirely different kind of adventure: a paddling expedition on the Hron River, which for many was their first experience navigating a river outside the Czech Republic.

All three expeditions were completed successfully. Their participants demonstrated not only physical endurance but also teamwork, planning, organisation, and the ability to solve problems in unfamiliar situations. These are exactly the skills that make DofE so unique — it is not only about reaching a goal but about the journey required to get there.

Our sincere thanks go to all leaders, trainers, and assessors who guide the students throughout the year, support them in fulfilling their goals, and help them navigate the entire DofE cycle.

We are delighted to look back on another successful DofE year and look forward to seeing what the next one brings.