Plymstock School celebrates first DofE success

Thirty-five students from Plymstock School in Plymouth celebrated achieving their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award last week, the first time students from the school have been able to take part in The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). 

The students received their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award certificate at a celebration event attended by over 80 people.

To achieve a DofE Award, students have to volunteer in their local community, learn a skill, take on a physical activity and plan and undertake a two day camping expedition. Widely acknowledged as the world’s leading achievement award for young people, DofE programmes enable any young person, aged 14-24, to develop key skills for life and work, such as confidence, commitment and team working.

Kelly Tyrrell, Head of PE and DofE Manager at Plymstock School, attended the presentation to see the group receive their Bronze Awards, and said, “The ceremony was a celebration of experiences that I hope will last the students a lifetime. It was a real mix of fun and formality with awards for the best decorated tent to the best dressed teacher being presented before the main presentation. We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening and can't wait to do it all again next year.'

Speaking about her DofE experience, Bryony Palmer, a student at the school and Bronze Award holder, said, “'It was a lovely evening and we all really enjoyed being reminded of all the great things we have done this year. I felt really proud achieving my Bronze Award and can't wait to do my Silver Award.”

There are currently over 400,000 young people taking part in a DofE programme across the UK through a variety of centres including both state and independent schools, special schools, businesses, prisons, young offender institutions and youth groups.

To find out more about the DofE and how it enables young people to succeed, please visit www.DofE.org