This prestigious award was founded by the Duke of Edinburg, Queen Elizabeth's husband, in 1956. The goal of the programme is to inspire guide and support young people in their self-development and recognize their achievements.

Anyone aged between 14 and 24 can do a programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

There are four sections at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold.

With assistance from adult leaders -in our case teachers from the school- participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
• Physical: improving in an area of sports, dance or fitness activities.
• Skills: developing and social skills and personal interests.
• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or aboard.
• At gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section which is directed to the oldest students.

 

The activities in each section must be done for one hour per week for a given length of time. The time required increases from bronze to silver and from silver to gold. The activities have to be monitored and assessed.

The Duke of Edinburg's Award is extremely prestigious and is valuable on university applications and CVs.

But above all this programme encourages teenagers and youngsters to use their free time in a healthy, creative, solidarian and enriching way.

Mr. Ronan Foley, very experienced in running this Award will be the teacher running it in our school.