Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14-25.  It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.

The Award is a programme consisting of three progressive levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold

Within each level participants must complete four Sections:

Service (helping the community)

Skills (a hobby, skill or interest)

Physical Recreation (sports, fitness)

Expeditions (on foot, cycle, horseback, or water)

In the Third Form, all pupils are expected to take the opportunity to work towards their Bronze Award. 

Having completed the Bronze Award early in the Fourth Form, pupils are given the option of continuing through the Award programme to the Silver or even Gold Award.  The school continues to closely support the pupils through each of these stages – particularly providing logistical support and guidance for the Expedition section at each level.

The school supports pupils fully as they work towards the Award and assists them in the organisation of their Expedition and encourages them to complete the Service section of the programme by attending a First Aid course organised by the school and run by St John Ambulance.

In recent years large numbers of Fettes pupils have progressed through the programme and in September 2006 over 75 Lower Sixth pupils signed up for the Gold Award with many having completed both their Bronze and Silver Awards

Further information on how the Award works can be found on their web site www.theaward.org .