The Duke of Edinburgh International Award We all recognise that not all learning happens in the classroom; many students take on the challenge of The Duke of Edinburgh International Award and have chosen to complete either their Bronze (Year 10), Silver (Year 11) or Gold Award (Year 12/13). The Award is available to all young people between the ages of 14-24 year old and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. It equips young people for life regardless of their background, culture, physical ability, skills and interests. Participating in the Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others; it pushes young people to their personal limits and recognises their achievements. The Award comprises 4 key areas: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Adventurous Journey. All participants are required to learn a new skill, provide a service to their community and develop an area of personal physical recreation. At Gold level, participants also have to complete a residential project where sutdents stay away from home and undertake a new experience such as learning how to cook, working at the National Trust in the UK or foreign language submersion. At every level of the Award, sutdents will undertake a practice and qualifying expedition in the great outdoors. The Award allows students to develop their independence, resilience and perseverance over at least one year for Bronze and more for Silver and Gold. The 2019-2020 cohort has faced the additional challenge of COVID-19 and so it is even more wonderful that we have so many people that have passed their Awards this year, very well done everyone!
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