Duke of Edinburgh launched at ISW
ISW is a huge champion of the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, and we are delighted that all our learning partners in Year 8, 9 and 10 are working towards their Bronze Award – with the intention that many of our students continue with the award scheme in future years and achieve the prestigious Silver and Gold awards. For those who are unaware, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) scheme is a youth development program that aims to help young people develop skills, build confidence, and make a positive impact in their communities. The program is open to learners in secondary schools, and it offers a range of activities and challenges in four areas: physical, skills, volunteering, and expeditions.
The DofE scheme can benefit learners in a number of ways:
Personal development
DofE encourages students to set and achieve personal goals, which can help them build self-confidence, self-esteem and develop a sense of personal responsibility.
Physical fitness
The scheme encourages students to participate in physical activities, which can help them improve their physical fitness and well-being.
Skills development
DofE allows students to learn new skills and develop existing ones, which can help them to become more employable in the future.
Teamwork and leadership
The scheme encourages students to work in teams and take on leadership roles, which can help them develop important teamwork and leadership skills.
Community engagement
DofE requires students to participate in volunteering activities, which can help them understand the needs of their community and make a positive impact on it.
Adventure and challenge
The expeditions element of DofE helps students to develop resilience, problem-solving skills and self-reliance.
Recognition
Upon completion, students will receive a certificate and a badge that recognizes their achievements, which can be added to their CV or used as a talking point in job interviews.
In a nutshell, the DofE scheme can help secondary learners to develop a range of important skills and attributes that will benefit them both in their academic and personal lives.
At ISW, our Duke of Edinburgh participants have been staying on top of their volunteering with various activities. Last month, Years 8 & 10 helped sort mail during a busy period at the post office. In January, Years 9 & 10 took Reception on a fun hike on the trails in the woods around school. They are continuing training for their end-of-year expedition with wilderness first aid, map reading, and other skills.
Adrian Scarlett, Vice Principal & Head of Secondary ISW