KING’S Ely has become a Directly Licenced Centre for the Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award.
Magda Charlton, DofE Operations Officer for the East of England, visited the school on June 22nd to present the Principal, Sue Freestone, and King’s Ely’s Assistant Director of Outdoor Education and DofE Manager, Martin Bray, with their new DofE Award Centre Licence.
King’s Ely has run the DofE Award for a number of years, but the fact that the school has recently become a Directly Licenced Centre (DLC) means it now holds its own licence directly with the DofE to deliver the programmes to its own students.
The DofE Award is a personal development programme for young people aged between 14 and 24. Participants choose a programme of activities in four sections: Physical, Skills, Volunteering and an Expedition. A Residential section is included at Gold level. Students commit one hour a week to each section for a set time period ranging from 3 to 18 months.
King’s Ely runs all three levels of the DofE Award, Bronze starting in Year 9, Silver for those starting in Year 10 and Gold for those who have reached their 16th birthday. Participants can start at any level and complete an agreed programme of activities working towards their personal goals. Each progressive level demands more time and commitment. DofE programmes are held in high regard within education, by employers, parents and wider communities.
Principal of King’s Ely, Sue Freestone, said: “King’s Ely is delighted to continue its association with the DofE and helping more of its students complete this valuable award.”
Mrs Freestone and Mr Bray recently attended a regional DofE awards ceremony at Buckingham Palace where they were delighted to bump into Old Elean Daniel Hayes. They were very proud to see Daniel, who completed both his Bronze and Silver DofE Awards whilst studying at King’s Ely, receive his Gold Award.