Bronze, Silver, Gold · Ages 14 to 18 · Online

Coding for the Duke of Edinburgh Skills section

The Skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is about getting steadily better at one activity over a set number of weeks, and coding suits it well because progress shows on screen. The DofE names web design and coding an app among its examples, but your DofE Leader decides whether an activity counts. Modern Age Coders teaches Python and web coding live online, an hour a week, through our Python course for teens, as a group or 1-on-1. We are not a DofE Approved Activity Provider. This page sets out the section lengths at each level, the Assessor rules and a coding plan for each.

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Built from dofe.org pages read 31 October 2026 · Not a DofE Approved Activity Provider

Can coding count for the Duke of Edinburgh Skills section?

Yes, if your DofE Leader agrees. The DofE says the Skills section is about developing personal interests and practical skills, and that "you should keep learning and get better at your activity". It names web design among possible Skills and coding an app among programme ideas. You need an average of 1 hour a week for 3 months at Bronze, 3 or 6 months at Silver and 6 or 12 months at Gold, with longer for direct entrants. School lessons do not count, since the DofE says core curriculum does not. Modern Age Coders teaches coding live online outside school, on our Python course for teens, in a batch of 15 to 20 or 1-on-1. We are not an Approved Activity Provider.

Where to begin

Three courses that fit a Skills section

Pick the one that matches what you want to be able to show at the end. Every card opens the week-by-week syllabus.

Python for Teens course thumbnail

DES / 01

Python for teens

From a first program to games and data projects; the natural Bronze or Silver choice from age 14.

Open the syllabus →
HTML & CSS for Beginners course thumbnail

DES / 02

Web design with HTML and CSS

The DofE names web design as a Skill; build and publish real pages over a section.

Open the syllabus →
Full Stack Web Development for Teens course thumbnail

DES / 03

Full stack web for teens

React and Node.js for a Gold Skills section of six or twelve months.

Open the syllabus →

Does it count?

Does coding count as a DofE Skill?

Coding is a natural Skill, but approval sits with your DofE Leader, not with us and not with this page. The DofE asks every participant to check before starting.

What the DofE says about the Skills section, from dofe.org read 31 October 2026
QuestionWhat the DofE says
What is the section for?"Skills is about developing personal interests, and practical and social skills."
What must you show?That you keep learning and get better at your activity, towards a goal that is challenging but achievable
Is coding an example?Web design is named among Skills examples, and "coding the next big app" among programme ideas
Who checks it counts?"Talk to your DofE Leader before you start your activity so they can check it's suitable."
Do school lessons count?No: "Paid work and core curriculum does not count, as you need to do your DofE outside of work or school time."
Does the provider need DofE approval?No: for Skills, the DofE says "an AAP licence is optional", and you can do the section with an organisation that has none
Skills or Volunteering?"The Skills section is about learning, the Volunteering section is about using your skills for good in your community."

Our position, plainly

Modern Age Coders is not a DofE Approved Activity Provider. The DofE says it "can only licence UK-based organisations", and our teachers work from India, so we cannot hold a licence. We do not use any DofE logo.

In the DofE's own suggested words for independent providers: "This activity may count towards your Duke of Edinburgh's Award Skills section. Please check with your DofE Leader before booking."

Learning coding versus teaching it

Taking coding lessons and improving is Skills. Running a coding club for younger children is Volunteering. A young person could do both in one programme, as long as the two activities are genuinely different.

If you already study GCSE Computer Science, ask your Leader early. Coding outside school is fine in principle, but the section should not simply repeat your school course.

Sources: DofE, Skills; DofE, Approved Activity Providers; DofE, Your DofE programme. All read 31 October 2026. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a registered charity; we are not connected with it.

How long

How long is the DofE Skills section at Bronze, Silver and Gold?

Between 3 and 18 months, depending on level, on which section you choose to make longer, and on whether you did the level below. The DofE expects an average of 1 hour a week throughout.

Skills section length by level, from the DofE timescales page read 31 October 2026
LevelStartSkills sectionIf you skipped the level below
BronzeIn the school year you turn 143 months/13 weeks, or 6 months if you pick Skills for the extra 3 monthsNot applicable
SilverIn the school year you turn 15Physical and Skills: one for 6 months/26 weeks, the other for 3 months/13 weeksAn extra 6 months on Volunteering or the longer of Physical and Skills, so up to 12 months
GoldAfter turning 16Physical and Skills: one for 12 months/52 weeks, the other for 6 months/26 weeksAn extra 6 months on Volunteering or the longer of Physical and Skills, so up to 18 months

Weekly time and condensed hours

The DofE asks for "an average of 1 hour a week" on each section, usually weekly at Bronze. At Silver and Gold an activity can be done for longer but less often.

There are limits: you "cannot condense an activity to less than 1 session per month" and "cannot complete more than 6 hours in a month". All sections must be finished before your 25th birthday.

Choosing the longer section

At Bronze you spend an extra 3 months on one of Volunteering, Physical or Skills, and the DofE says you should decide which before you start, though you can change your mind.

Choosing coding for the longer section gives 26 weeks, enough to move from first programs to a finished project. Our plans below are written for each possible length.

Our arithmetic on the DofE averages: a 13-week Skills section is about 13 hours of activity, a 26-week section about 26 hours and a 52-week section about 52 hours. Practice between lessons is extra and sensible, but the log should record the activity time honestly.

Source: DofE, Timescales, read 31 October 2026. The hour totals are our own arithmetic.

Assessors

Who can be the Assessor for a coding Skills section?

Almost any independent adult who knows the activity. A coding teacher who has watched your progress over the weeks is the obvious choice, if your Leader is happy.

  1. The Assessor must be independent, not a family member, and over the age of 18, says the DofE.
  2. They should have some knowledge of the activity and be available over the time you are doing it.
  3. Give them the Skills Assessor's card from your Welcome Pack and tell them your goal at the start.
  4. At the end you discuss your progress, and they decide whether you met the requirements: "effort, perseverance, improvement and making progress towards your section goals".
  5. They write or sign off the Assessor's report and upload it to eDofE.

Can a Modern Age Coders teacher be your Assessor?

Our teachers are adults, unrelated to students and teach the activity every week, which matches the DofE description. If your DofE Leader agrees, you can ask the teacher who taught you whether they can act as your Assessor; your Leader has the final say on who assesses you.

If your Leader prefers someone else, we send progress notes to whoever they choose.

A sample Assessor's note (ours, for illustration)

Over 13 weekly lessons the participant moved from printing text to writing a complete quiz game with a score, a high-score file and input checking. They debugged their own errors with growing independence and met their goal of a working game a friend could play.

That is the kind of note the DofE criteria point to: effort, perseverance and visible improvement. It is our invented example, not a real participant's report.

Source: DofE, Choosing Assessors, read 31 October 2026. The sample note is ours.

Coding plans

What coding could you do for 13, 26 or 52 weeks?

Three plans we wrote, one per section length. Each ends in something you can show your Assessor working. They are suggestions; your goal should be your own.

Our coding plans for a Skills section
LengthPlanWeeks 1 to a quarterMiddleFinal weeksShow at the end
13 weeks (Bronze)Python gamesVariables, input, if statementsLoops, lists, a guessing gameA quiz game with a score and saved high scoreA game a friend can play
26 weeks (Bronze longer, or Silver)Python plus a web pagePython basics and functionsFiles, data, a small text adventureAn HTML and CSS page presenting the projectA published page and a working program
52 weeks (Gold)A full web appHTML, CSS and JavaScriptReact front end and a Node.js serverA database-backed app with users' data handled safelyA deployed app and a short write-up
Week 6 of our Bronze plan: a guessing gamePython
import random

secret = random.randint(1, 100)
tries = 0
while True:
    guess = int(input("Guess a number from 1 to 100: "))
    tries += 1
    if guess < secret:
        print("Higher")
    elif guess > secret:
        print("Lower")
    else:
        print("Got it in", tries, "tries")
        break

By week 8 participants add input checking so a typed word does not crash the game, which is exactly the kind of improvement an Assessor can see.

A sample goal (ours)

"By the end of my 13-week Skills section I will write a Python quiz game with at least ten questions, a score, and a high score that is saved between games, and fix my own errors using error messages."

It is challenging but achievable, specific enough to check, and it names a skill (debugging) as well as a product.

A sample weekly log entry (ours)

Week 5, 1 hour. Learned while loops. Wrote a times-table tester that keeps asking until the answer is right. Got stuck when the loop never ended; found I never changed the variable. Next week: lists, so the quiz can hold many questions.

Four lines: what you did, what went wrong, how you fixed it and what is next. The DofE asks you to add logs and evidence to eDofE.

The plans, code, goal and log entry are ours. Plans for under-18 participants use only tools suitable for their age.

Beyond the Award

Does a coding Skills section help with university or sixth form?

It gives you something real to describe. The DofE itself says a Skills activity related to the subject you want to study can be written about in a UCAS personal statement.

What you end up with

At the end of a Skills section in coding you have a working project, a log of how you built it, and an Assessor's report on your effort and improvement. That is evidence of sustained independent learning, which is what selectors look for in any applicant.

For computing, maths or engineering applicants it is also directly relevant. We make no promise about any offer or place.

Keeping it going

Many participants continue after the section ends. A Bronze game can grow into a Silver web project and a Gold app, each level building on the last.

For project ideas at sixth-form level, our computer science project ideas page has more, and the Coolest Projects page shows a place to share one.

You may change one activity in each section at each level, though the DofE does not recommend it and you restart preparation, training and assessment; the time on both activities adds up. If coding is not working out after a few weeks, talk to your Leader rather than drifting.

Source: DofE, Skills and Your DofE programme, read 31 October 2026.

Stages

From first program to a deployed app

Our coding stages, matched loosely to the three DofE levels. Many participants start at Bronze with no coding at all.

Our coding stages for DofE participants
StageFitsSecure when
1. First programsBronzeWrites a short Python program with input, decisions and a loop
2. Structured codeBronze longer or SilverUses functions and lists to build a game or tool
3. The webSilverPresents a project on a page built with HTML and CSS
4. Full applicationsGoldBuilds and deploys a web app with a front end and a server

Starting from zero is normal

The Skills section measures improvement, so a complete beginner has the most room to show progress.

Experienced coders set a harder goal instead.

Linked pages

School-age coding is covered on our KS3 computing page.

For a coding challenge with a deadline, try the National Cipher Challenge.

All related courses

Coding courses for DofE participants

Grouped by level. Every course page shows the syllabus week by week, which helps when setting a goal.

I

Bronze

Ages 14 and up

UK / DES / 02

HTML and CSS

Web design, a named DofE Skill example.

Open the syllabus

UK / DES / 03

JavaScript for teens

Interactive pages and browser games.

Open the syllabus
II

Silver

Ages 15 and up
III

Gold

Ages 16 and up

UK / DES / 07

Full stack web for teens

React and Node.js applications.

Open the syllabus

UK / DES / 08

AI and machine learning for teens

Python to real models.

Open the syllabus

How lessons run

An hour a week, logged as you go

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. One lesson a week matches the DofE average of 1 hour. Every time is in UK time; our teachers are in India and teach to the UK calendar.

After school

Weekly group lessons for ages 14 to 18.

Weekday evening

For Gold participants at college or work.

Weekend morning

Groups and 1-on-1 lessons.

Goal set in week 1

We help you write a goal your Leader can approve.

One hour, every week

The DofE average, with dates you can log.

Visible progress

Each week ends with code that does something new.

Assessor-ready notes

Short progress notes your Assessor can draw on.

Group or 1-on-1

15 to 20 participants, or a private teacher.

A finished project

Every plan ends with something that works.

Student work

What students have coded with us

Projects from teenagers in our classes. See student labs for more.

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NutriLife

An AI nutrition coach that reads what you eat and works you toward a target.

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Misti AI chatbot for maths and coding screenshot

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Misti

A chatbot that answers mathematics and programming questions, built and deployed by a student.

by Harshit · Open it

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GuardianX

An assistant that helps a young person recognise unsafe situations online.

by Vivaan · Open it

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Web app

SkyCast

A weather forecasting site with live conditions for any location.

by Krish

Fees

Fees for a coding Skills section

Paid month by month, so a 13-week Bronze section costs about three months and a Gold section runs as long as it needs. The first lesson is free.

Free first class

USD 0

no card required

  • A first coding lesson
  • Help drafting your Skills goal
  • Book with only a phone number
Book it

Group batch

USD 100

a month, billed in US dollars

  • 15 to 20 participants
  • One hour each week
  • Progress notes for your Assessor
  • A project by the end
Start here

One to one

USD 150

a month, billed in US dollars

  • One participant, one teacher
  • Plan built around your goal
  • Times that fit sixth form or college
Enquire

What families say

Rated 4.9 across 547 Google reviews

Reviews from families on our Google profile, left as written.

★★★★★

"The one step solution for my son. Modern Age Coders make learning coding so simple that kids love it. The teachers explain complex concepts clearly with practical exercises and interactive content."

Ria Mukherjee

Parent

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders has been a game-changer for me. I struggled to grasp IT concepts and coding before joining, but their classes transformed everything. I can now confidently write complex programs with ease."

Samriddha Mondal

Student

★★★★★

"One of the most wonderful education centres out there. Education is not limited to school syllabus but focuses on skill development."

Vansh Agarwal

Student

★★★★★

"My child Dhairya is really enjoying the Modern Age Coders classes. This is his first online class and he eagerly looks forward to it. I can already see his improvement, and the teachers are very cooperative."

Sonam Oswal

Parent of Dhairya

★★★★★

"Modern Age Coders have wonderful teachers who teach in a clear, easy and practical way. The teacher boosts students' confidence and inspires them to learn without hesitation."

Sonu Goyal

Parent

★★★★★

"I highly recommend this computer coding class! The teachers are incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about coding."

Ritu Kedia

Parent

DofE Skills questions

What participants and parents ask about coding for DofE

Does coding count for the Duke of Edinburgh Skills section?

It can. The DofE names web design among Skills examples and coding an app among programme ideas, but your DofE Leader must agree that your activity is suitable before you start.

How long is the Skills section for Bronze DofE?

Three months, or 13 weeks, unless you choose Skills as the section you do for an extra three months, which makes it six months. Bronze as a whole takes at least six months, and you can start in the school year you turn 14.

How long is the Skills section for Silver and Gold?

At Silver, one of Physical and Skills lasts six months and the other three. At Gold, one lasts twelve months and the other six. Direct entrants who skipped the level below add six months to Volunteering or the longer of the two.

How many hours a week do you need for DofE Skills?

An average of one hour a week, says the DofE. At Silver and Gold you can do longer sessions less often, but no fewer than one session a month and no more than six hours in a month.

Who can be my DofE Skills Assessor?

An adult over 18 who is independent of you, so not a family member, and who knows the activity and can follow your progress. If your Leader agrees, you can ask your coding teacher whether they can do it; your Leader has the final say.

Can I do my coding Skills section online?

Yes, if your Leader agrees. The DofE says you can do a Skills activity with an organisation that has no Approved Activity Provider licence, and its AAP rules mention activities offered in person or online.

Are you a DofE Approved Activity Provider?

No. The DofE licenses only UK-based organisations and our teachers work from India, so we cannot be one. For Skills an AAP licence is optional, and the activity may count if your DofE Leader approves it.

Do my school computing lessons count?

No. The DofE says core curriculum does not count, because the Award is done outside school or work time. Coding lessons you take outside school are different, but check with your Leader if they overlap a GCSE course.

What should my coding Skills goal be?

Something challenging but achievable and easy to check at the end, such as a working game, a published web page or a deployed app, plus a skill like debugging your own errors. Our plans on this page give examples for 13, 26 and 52 weeks.

When are lessons?

Weekdays or weekends, flexible: choose your batch, or for a very personalised plan choose 1-on-1 at your convenience, weekend mornings or weekdays. Times are confirmed in UK time.

Related pages

More coding for teenagers in the UK

School computing, competitions and project showcases.

KS3 computing

Programming in Years 7 to 9.

Choosing GCSE Computer Science

The Year 9 options question.

Coolest Projects UK

Share a finished project.

National Cipher Challenge

Code-breaking with Python.

Online coding summer course

A holiday of real projects.

Coding classes in the UK

All our UK pages.

Related pages in this guide

Part of the guide: UK maths enrichment, competitions and able pupils

Enrichment and able pupils

Maths competitions

Computing programmes and competitions

More guides: UK maths exam boards and specification codes · UK maths year by year, Reception to Year 11 · UK selective school maths tests: 7+, 11+, 13+ and 16+ · UK university admissions: maths tests and computing applications

Start here

Book a free coding lesson for your Skills section

Tell us your DofE level, how long your Skills section is and any coding you have done. After one lesson we help you draft a goal to take to your Leader.

Checking first? Every course page lays out its weeks, and how we teach explains a lesson.

WhatsApp us · +91 91233 66161 · connect@modernagecoders.com

For the quickest response use WhatsApp; our team in India answers from a +91 number.

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