Participation in the award is open to all students aged 14 and over. We are delighted that this year over 30 students from years 10 and 11 have participated in the programme and have successfully achieved the Bronze Award.

Students received their DofE certificates and badges in a special presentation held in the Academy’s Library where we were able to welcome Steve Dunn of the Kirklees DofE Award programme.

Mr Dunn thanked the students for taking part in the award and told them how the award provided recognition of valuable skills that they had learned and demonstrated.  

“You should all be very proud of receiving the award,” he told them.

The Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award provides an amazingly rewarding experience for our students. Participants gain improved independence, resilience and confidence in areas outside the classroom environment. Students are required to devote hundreds of hours volunteering in the local community, getting fitter, learning new skills and discovering they are capable of far more than they ever realised. The Bronze Award consists of four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. All four sections must be completed in order to achieve the award.

The final section requires students to go on a three-hour walking expedition for two days with overnight camping (where possible). Students learn basic first aid skills, how to read a map, plan a route for their walk, how to cook on a camping stove, pitch a tent and more.

We are grateful to Mrs Walsh and Ms Greenwood for running the award at the Academy and giving our students the opportunity to participate.