Duke of Edinburgh Success

Churchill has a long and successful history as a licensed body for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, and this year's cohort have upheld that proud tradition. Eighty students were presented with their Bronze and Silver Awards this week.

Over the course of twenty years running the Award Scheme, hundreds of Churchill’s young people have achieved a DofE Award after volunteering in their community, learning a skill, getting fit, and going on an expedition. Doing a DofE programme significantly impacts young people’s futures, enabling them to develop vital skills for life and work, such as confidence, commitment, resilience and team work. Widely acknowledged as the world’s leading achievement award for young people, Churchill Academy & Sixth Form holds a licence to deliver DofE programmes to anyone between the ages of 14 and 24 years old.

Presenting the certificates, DofE Manager Mr Tinker explained how proud he was of the students' achievements, and how he wished he'd been given the opportunity to do the Award when he was at school. He congratulated the students on their commitment and on making the most of the opportunities presented to them. "Your volunteering work has really helped to enrich the community," he said. 

Awarding the DofE badges, Headteacher Mr Hildrew echoed Mr Tinker's sentiments, saying "it's a great achievement to gain a Duke of Edinburgh Award. I'm really impressed by the variety of skills you've shown, and the projects you've been involved with, from martial arts to dance, through music, science and technology to creative arts and charity work."

DofE colleague Mr Madeline encouraged the students to see their Awards as the start of a journey, reminding them that the Gold Award is available to students in the Sixth Form at Churchill. And, whilst receiving their awards from Mr Hildrew and Mr Tinker might be an honour, Gold Award holders are invited to the royal palaces in London to receive theirs! 

Churchill Academy Gold Award winner Amy Hogarth (pictured with DofE Manager Mr Tinker) after receiving her award at Buckingham Palace in May 2016