The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award

The Award seeks to counterbalance and complement the rigorous academic disciplines during the last years of secondary school.

It is an internationally recognised programme was developed in the UK.  It contains four areas, known as Sections: Skills, Physical Recreation, Service and Adventurous Journey.  At Gold level only there is an additional requirement of a Residential Project.

It provides a healthy balance to the rigours of the academic curriculum by encouraging students to:

• participate in sporting activities
• learn new skills
• be involved with work which will benefit others
• develop a sense of responsibility and commitment
• become more self confident

Completing part or all of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award will help when applying to universities, other schools and for jobs.

Sections

How much time will it take?

The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award for Young People is divided into three levels, each level having different time requirements. For each Section you are expected to show a regular commitment over a period of time.

The Award requires regular participation over the time period.  As a rule of thumb  this usually means a minimum of 1 hour per week on each of the Sections, as well as undertaking an Adventurous Journey at the appropriate level. For Bronze it is 1 term, for Silver it is 2 terms and Gold it is 3 terms.

Bronze Level

Silver Level

Gold Level

What are you expected to do?

1. Decide on which main activities you intend to follow for each of the Sections.
2. Make arrangements to pursue your activities. If they are ‘in school’ activities, this is not a problem, but for the out of school ones you may need to make contact with a club, sports centre, a responsible adult or similar.
3. Pursue your activities, trying to balance your time so that you devote at least one hour per week to each.
4. At the end of the activity period the coach will complete the Activity Assessor report.
5. Take part in your well planned self- sufficient team journey in an unfamiliar environment.
6. When all Sections are completed, stand back and receive the well-deserved accolades.

There is an administration cost of 150 rmb that each student has to pay when they start the scheme. There is also a charge for the  Adventurous Journey expeditions that are organised by the school and outside outward bound travel companies like Insight Adventure. 

For more information about the scheme, contact Nick Bourne, The Duke of Edinburgh's International Awards Coordinator at nick.bourne@britishschool.org.cn