Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Building resilience and rewarding perseverance
The College offers an opportunity for all sixth form and Year 10 pupils to get involved in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme at gold and silver level. Participation in the scheme is voluntary. It offers a series of constructive individual challenges that encourage personal development and is highly valued by employers and universities. Completion of the bronze and silver awards is not required prior to enrolment for the gold award.
The award at Eastbourne College is led by DofE Manager Seven Summiter and Everest mountaineer Dan Tebay; Dan is also the National Advisor DofE Army Cadet Force.
There here are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and university and job applications. Top employers recognise the work-ready skills Award holders bring to their business.
Pupils form teams of four to seven and receive guidance from a member of staff who acts as mentor for their programme. The scheme is very popular at the College.
Pupils are enrolled onto the silver programme in the spring term of Year 10 and onto the gold programme in the Lower Sixth.
The Black Mountains is the destination for the practice expedition during the first week of the summer holidays for the Lower Sixth gold participants. The final assessment for Upper Sixth pupils takes place in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) during the October half-term break. Those pupils working towards their silver award go to the South Downs/Peak District for their practice and assessment.
Suc
cessful completion of a gold award is a very impressive achievement, and shows that a participant has the skills, determination and mentality to succeed. Gold award presentations are highly prestigious events, held at St James’ Palace in London or Buckingham Palace in the summer. Both silver and gold pupils who complete, are also invited to the prestigious Headmaster’s Garden Barbeque in the summer term.
Visit the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards website to find out more.
The award is highly valued by employers and universities.
