Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards

The legacy that lives on at South Bromsgrove High

As the nation mourns the death of the Duke of Edinburgh, staff and students reflect on his impact within the community of South Bromsgrove High School.

In 1956, Prince Phillip introduced the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which is a voluntary non-competitive programme of activities, chosen by the participant, at one of three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

The award has been a central part of the extracurricular provision at South Bromsgrove High since the early 1990s. It grew substantially under the leadership of Paul Copeland, who went on to become the headteacher, and Will Thomas, who still volunteers as an expedition assessor, despite leaving the school in 2002.

In a typical year, approximately 240 students from year 10 participate in the Bronze award. Around 140 enrol in Silver and around 90 in Gold. Completion rates are amongst the best in the region at around 75%, significantly higher than the national average of 50%. The expedition section alone requires the support of over 60 staff members who give their time and expertise voluntarily.

DofE involves completing three sections independently, plus an Expedition. In the Volunteering section, participants spend at least one hour a week for three months (longer for Silver and Gold) making a difference within their communities. Popular activities are helping with Scouts or Guides, supporting the local Junior Parkrun in Sanders Park, sports coaching, working in a charity shop and litter picking.

In the Skills section, participants spend at least an hour a week learning a new skill or developing an existing one. Cooking and photography are popular, along with coding and playing a musical instrument. At Gold, many participants use their driving lessons for their Skill activity. Within the Physical section, participants spend at least one hour a week doing something active, which could be a team or individual sport or fitness activity.

At Gold, participants must also complete a residential activity of their choice, meeting new people on a collaborative project lasting five days.

For most young people, the Expedition is the most memorable part. Being self-sufficient, resilient and independent, together with six friends, carrying what you need to survive and knowing that you have the training to do so safely, provides a life-changing experience which helps to ensure that the adults of tomorrow have a depth of character and skills which they can draw on for the rest of their lives.

The progression from a two-day Expedition at Bronze within the Worcestershire countryside to a four-day Expedition in the rugged mountains of Snowdonia ensures that the awards remain achievable whilst providing a suitable challenge for students of all backgrounds and physical abilities. We are proud that our staff members have the expertise to support students with learning difficulties and physical disabilities to complete their Expedition sections.

The pandemic has necessitated changes to the way that DofE is run, but students and staff are adapting to this in a way which is appropriate for an award scheme based on determination and dedication. Previous generations of young people have faced different national and global challenges, and not just survived but thrived. I am confident that our current participants will realise for many years to come how their involvement in DofE helped them to develop the resilience and confidence to come out on top. Neil Dixon, Director of DofE at South Bromsgrove High School.