Record Participation in Volunteering

Gordano School is celebrating a record-breaking year for participation in the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award

400 students have enrolled across the bronze, silver and gold levels, representing a significant increase in uptake and highlighting the enthusiasm, resilience and commitment of students across the school.

This year, 230 students are undertaking the bronze award, 118 are working towards silver and 52 students have committed to the prestigious gold award. The growth across all three levels reflects a strong culture of ambition and personal development, as young people challenge themselves both in and beyond the classroom.

Head of outdoor education, Polly Oakman, said: “This outstanding achievement highlights the enthusiasm and spirit of our school community and is something our team is incredibly proud to celebrate.”

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a nationally recognised programme that supports young people to develop key life skills through volunteering, physical activity, skills development and adventurous expeditions. Participation builds confidence, teamwork and independence, while encouraging students to make a positive contribution to their communities.

Gordano School has a long-standing record of success with the DofE award, with students contributing thousands of hours of volunteering and achieving consistently high completion rates. In recent years, the school has been recognised as having the highest number of DofE starters in the South West for two consecutive years, with gold award students attending presentations at Buckingham Palace.