The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a programme of exciting and challenging activities for young people aged 14-25. The award brings many benefits for boys at Queen Elizabeth’s School: it develops confidence; strengthens teamwork and communication abilities; brings opportunities to learn new skills and gives boys the chance to make new friends. In addition, the award is very helpful when boys complete UCAS university application forms. In particular, it provides the required ‘national recognition’ of a level of commitment, as well as providing evidence of ‘essential non-academic skills’. 

There are five sections to the award: service; skill, physical recreation; expedition and residential experience. It offers a system of a system of accreditation at three levels: bronze, for those aged 14+, silver (15+) and gold (16+).

Many of the requirements can be fulfilled through activities at Queen Elizabeth’s School. For example, the service section aims to encourage active citizenship and community involvement: thus the School’s voluntary service programme, CCF, peer support network and sports leadership & coaching programme all count towards the award. In addition, activities outside QE can also qualify.

Similarly, for the skill section, QE activities such as drawing, creative writing, playing a musical instrument, singing, photography and sports refereeing – to name just a few – can all qualify, as well as hobbies and interests pursued outside the School.

For the physical recreation section, the requirements can be fulfilled through a wide range of physical activities, from athletics, swimming and rugby to dance, rock-climbing, skateboarding and orienteering.

For the expedition section, at gold level the School firstly organises training, usually in a field in the Chilterns, and a practice expedition on Dartmoor. The assessed expedition takes place in Snowdonia. Boys spend four days and three nights on the expedition.

The residential experience section aims to broaden young people’s experiences through involvement with others. Gold-level candidates spend five consecutive days and four nights on: conservation or environmental work; service to others; an activity-based visit or personal training.

Pupils working towards the gold award at QE decide on their activities for the various sections and then find a mentor for each. They record their progress in a dedicated record book: final assessment is based on this evidence and may take place either while the pupil is at QE or after he has left. After the final assessment, the record books are sent to the Barnet Adventure Operating Authority for approval. The gold award is then presented at one of the royal palaces.

Views of past QE participants

"A way to have fun and complete your voluntary work at the same time... It also allows you to improve your team work and other essential skills." Kishen Patel

"I would 110& recommend it to anyone who wants to build on their strengths. The Award helps tremendously with your UCAS application and can even get you noticed by future employers." Imran Khan

"It's a great way to build on your existing skills, meet new people and kick-start your university application with something unique!" Akhil Amlani

Useful links

www.theaward.org.uk

www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/oswebsite/

www.mileendwall.org.uk