RGS Worcester Celebrates the Legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh Award
The School wrote an article published in The Worcester News following the announcement of the death of The Duke of Edinburgh. This was an opportunity to demonstrate the very significant impact and legacy of the Duke of Edinburgh Award. The full article is included below:
The RGS Worcester Family of Schools was deeply saddened to hear of the death of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh earlier this month.
One of Prince Philip’s lasting legacies in education is the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. This Scheme was founded in 1954 apparently at the request of the Prince’s former Headmaster, Kurt Hahn. The DofE Awards have since achieved incredible popularity amongst young people. At RGS Worcester thousands of pupils have completed their Duke of Edinburgh Awards over the years.
The Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE Awards emphasise service and build key characteristics of resilience and determination. One of the most extraordinary aspects of the Scheme is that the Gold Awards are given in person to recipients by a member of the Royal Family at St James’s Palace or Buckingham Palace each year.
Through the Scheme, The Duke of Edinburgh has certainly left a long and lasting legacy of fun and togetherness at RGS Worcester and RGS Dodderhill, feelings that are vitally important at a time when community spirit and wellbeing are of paramount importance during the Covid-19 pandemic. Pupils each year enjoy their DofE journey from Year Nine onwards, with a range of activities as part of our Co-curricular programme.
Each pupil completes their service element by helping others and contributing to the community. They also go on an Expedition which is usually held locally for the Bronze Award, and moves further afield to Scotland for the Silver Award. To create a greater challenge, we organise the Gold Award expedition to be completed abroad in places such as Sweden, Greece or Croatia, where the pupils have to camp out on their own, plan their routes and, in the case of our Silver and Gold Awards, can choose kayaking expeditions which really test grit, determination and stamina, as well as develop skills of leadership and teamwork.
Headmaster, Mr John Pitt, commented: “It is incredibly sad to hear of the passing of the late Duke of Edinburgh; the RGS Schools offer our sincerest condolences to Her Majesty The Queen. The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is a highlight for former and current RGS pupils – as they are challenged to work together, develop crucial life skills, and contribute to their community. We would like to take this opportunity to thank the Duke of Edinburgh and his former Headmaster and celebrate this wonderful legacy, one which will continue at RGS Schools and in many schools across the country for years to come”.
