On Friday 19th May, a group of our sixth form students travelled to London to attend the Gold DofE ceremony at Buckingham Palace. 

Accompanied by their DofE coordinators Mr Carlin and Mr Wilson, the students had the opportunity to socialise with fellow students, speak to HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, and reflect upon their hard work that earned them their award. They also receive a gold badge or brooch to commemorate their achievement.

Mr Carlin commented: ‘The sun shone upon us in the gardens of Buckingham Palace as we marked the culmination of many years of hard work and determination through Bronze, Silver and Gold. The ceremonies are an excellent opportunity for the participants and their families to celebrate and receive acknowledgement of their dedication, not only to the award scheme and their own personal development, but also to the wider community’.

Achieving a Gold DofE Award is a substantial achievement. The programme is demanding, taking between 12-18 months to complete and includes activities in five sections – Physical, Skills, Volunteering, a five-day Residential and a four-day expedition. 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is open to all young people aged 14-24 years old. We encourage all students at Wakefield Girls’ to participate in the award – it is a great opportunity to have fun, make new friends, improve self-esteem and build confidence, as they are pushed outside of their comfort zones and try new things they have never done before. Moreover, the award also enables students to gain essential skills and attributes for work and adult life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive. 

Congratulations to Abbeygail, Anisha, Betty, Ebony, Elizabeth, Ella N, Ella S, Esther, Grace, Hooriya, Isabella, Jiaqi, Luchia, Marie, Martha, Sarah, Sophie D, Sophie R and Suzanne on receiving your Gold Awards.

Mr B Carlin

DofE Coordinator