The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a voluntary activity programme for girls aged 14 and above. There is a very strong Award Unit in which over half the school participates. Nearly every girl opts for Bronze in the UIV and LV Forms, many continuing to Silver and, in the Sixth Form, Gold.

A four section programme is followed at Bronze and Silver comprising a Sport, a Skill and a Service activity and a Team Expedition, with activities chosen to suit individual interests. At Gold a Residential Project is added. Sports and Skills are chosen from activities available in school and at home. A First Aid course runs for Bronze Service while at Silver and Gold, girls help pupils in a local Primary School, visit the elderly, learn Lifesaving and devise a wealth of ingenious fundraising initiatives.

Girls are trained and prepared in school for their Expeditions, developing their organisational, team work and leadership skills and learning to cope with challenge and adversity. At Bronze, expeditions last a weekend and run locally; at Gold, they last four days in ‘wild country’. Whilst many girls choose to walk, riding with a specialist trekking company is possible for Silver and Gold Expeditions and competent sailors may be able to join a Gold open sailing venture.

Award participation offers many rewards, among them the friendships made, the memories shared and the sense of achievement on completion of an Award.