Endurance and perseverance

Claremont High School students learn key life skills through the DofE Award 

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has run for many years at Claremont High School. Its aim is to help young people, aged 14 to 24, develop skills, confidence and resilience through non-formal education. Activities include volunteering, physical recreation and expeditions. Participants complete challenges across Bronze, Silver and Gold levels gaining lifelong skills in the process. 

Ms Daniel leads the DofE at Claremont and is convinced of its benefits: ‘The Duke of Edinburgh's Award gives students far more than a certificate at the end. They gain confidence, resilience and a real sense of achievement. They also develop independence, whether it’s planning their own route for an expedition, volunteering in the community, or committing to a physical activity each week, they take ownership of their progress.’ 

What specific skills does she think participants learn?  

‘Through volunteering, students build empathy, leadership and community awareness. The physical section teaches perseverance and goal-setting, while the skills section encourages creativity, discipline and dedication over time. Beyond the structured sections, they develop time-management awareness, resilience and the ability to reflect on their own growth. These are all skills that will benefit them in further education, employment and life in general.’ 

So what drives young people to join up?  

Siya Bedi in Year 10 saw it as a unique opportunity: ‘I wanted to get involved in the DofE Award because I knew it was a once-in-a-lifetime chance to learn and develop new abilities, like navigating, teamwork and surviving in the wild with a tent and a Trangia (spirit-burning camp stove) to cook with. In DofE I learnt to work as a team and build my physical strength, carrying 10kg on my back. It has taught me endurance and perseverance.’ 

What have been some of Siya’s most memorable experiences as part of DofE? 

‘The most challenging thing I've done for the DofE Award was volunteering, as I did mine outside school and the organisation was very particular about what it wanted. Overall it was definitely worth it, though. My favourite thing was undoubtedly the expedition. My group excelled at this as we planned our route effectively, making everything else easier and allowing us to have fun.’ 

And what are the highlights of the DofE Award for Ms Daniel? 

‘As DofE Manager, what makes me most proud is seeing the steady, long-term development of the participants. They take ownership of their commitments, push themselves to improve and begin to recognise the difference they can make beyond themselves. It’s not just about completing sections - it’s about watching their mind-set shift as they become more self-motivated, community-minded and confident in setting and achieving personal goals.’