Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities, designed to support the personal and social development of young people aged 14 - 25, regardless of gender, background or ability. It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time. All awards must be completed by the participant's 25^th birthday.

The Skinners’ School is a Licensed Organisation and we run all three levels of the Award at school.

What does the Programme consist of?

It is a four-section programme with three progressive levels:

• Bronze – for those aged 14 and over. At Skinners’ we run Bronze in Year 10 and it takes at least 6 months to complete.
• Silver – for those aged 15 and over. This is run in Year 11 at Skinners’ and it takes at least 6 months to complete.
• Gold – for those aged 16 and over. This is run in Year 12 at Skinners’ and takes at least 12 months to complete.

The sections involve:

• Volunteering (helping other people in the local community)
• Skills (covering almost any hobby, skill or interest)
• Physical recreation (sport, dance and fitness)
• Expeditions (training for, planning and completing a journey on foot or horseback, by boat or cycle)
• Residential Project (Gold Award only - a purposeful enterprise with people not previously known to the participant)

What are the benefits of involvement?

It largely goes without saying that the Award is widely recognised by employers and people involved in education as a worthwhile and well-regarded qualification. More importantly, at least to us at school, are the myriad personal benefits that come with completing the award; ranging from the sense of achievement, acquisition of new skills or interests and building friendships to the development of leadership skills and experience of teamwork. The cumulative impact that the Award has had on the character of our students cannot be over-stated.

‘Direct Entry’

The Award levels are designed to follow on from each other. However, if you have not completed an earlier level, there is nothing stopping you signing up as a ‘Direct entrant’, this just increases some of the timescales involved in each section.

For further information contact Mr Walton (chris.walton@skinners-school.org.uk)