Duke of Edinburgh Award

– Bronze Year 10, Gold Year 12

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is a rewarding program of personal development which encourages young people to undertake constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time - there is a great deal of emphasis on developing independence and personal responsibility in the Award, both at Bronze and Gold levels.

The Award comprises four sections: Volunteering (with animals or in the community); Skill (a hobby, skill or interest); Physical Recreation (Sports, Dance, Fitness) and Expedition (on foot, cycle, horseback or water). There is an extra section for the Gold Award - the Residential - which allows each participant to pursue an interest away from home, in a residential setting, for 5 days. Participation in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is high at St. Aidan’s. Well over 120 students completed their Bronze or Gold Award over the last year.

Those students who are successful in the Gold category attend the ceremony at Buckingham or St. James’s Palace to receive their Gold Awards, each meeting the Earl of Wessex! Students undertaking the Award complete their training and expeditions in various locations across North Yorkshire, all renowned for their natural beauty: Bronze Practice, Bronze Assessed, and Gold Practice in the Yorkshire Dales; and finally the Gold Assessed expedition on the North Yorkshire Moors.

 Duke of Edinburgh Events (2025/2026)