Friday Headlines

26 May 2023

Last week, two Year 13 students had the honour of attending Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE). Jessica and Isabel, together with their mothers, were entertained by Royal brass bands on the lawns of Buckingham Palace and enjoyed an afternoon tea.

The afternoon was filled with inspiring speakers, celebrities, and personalities, including champion diver Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix, British gymnasts Jessica and Jennifer Gadirova, distance runner Sally Orange, and radio DJ Vick Hope.

The duo were presented with their Gold certificates and then were excited to meet the Duke of Edinburgh himself, Prince Edward. He spoke to the girls and congratulated them on the award and what it means.

"It was a glorious day," said Jessica. "We entered the Palace through the front gates with a police escort and spent a magical five hours being entertained in the Palace gardens. We even discovered a secret tennis court which was hidden in the depths of the gardens!"

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a challenging and rewarding program that helps young people develop their skills, confidence, and sense of adventure. It is open to young people aged 14-24, and there are three levels of award: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

To earn a Gold DofE award, participants must complete four sections: volunteering, physical activity, skills, and expedition. The volunteering section requires participants to complete at least 12 hours of volunteering in their community. The physical activity section requires participants to complete at least 15 hours of physical activity, such as sport, dance, or hiking. The skills section requires participants to learn a new skill, such as cooking, playing an instrument, or coding. The expedition section requires participants to complete a four-day, three-night expedition in the outdoors.

Congratulations to Jessica and Isabel on their achievement!