Great Yarmouth school becomes first to launch Duke of Edinburgh Award for all pupils

A school in Great Yarmouth has launched an innovative new initiative designed to help pupils develop new skills, take on personal challenges, improve their physical fitness, and give back to their local community.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award has been offered at schools across the country for many years, but this particular school is the first to launch it for all pupils in Year 9, the youngest age that can qualify for the award including an expedition. The move is part of a wider effort in the schools personal development programme to encourage young people to take on new challenges and develop skills that will help them thrive in the future.

Pupils at the school are already expressing their enthusiasm for the new program and their ambitions to make a big difference in the town and local community. Many are eager to take on personal challenges and volunteer their time to help others, while others are focused on improving their physical fitness and developing new skills.

Alice Gray, a teacher at the school, and co-ordinator of the scheme said, "The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to explore new interests, take on exciting challenges, and make a real difference to their community. By working towards the Gold Award by the time they reach our sixth form, our pupils will develop a range of skills and experiences that will set them up for success in the future. We are proud to be the first school in the area to offer this opportunity to all of our Year 9 pupils and we hope that it will inspire others to follow our lead."

The school's Senior Vice Principal, Sean Powell, is confident that the Duke of Edinburgh Award will be a huge success and hopes that it will inspire other schools in the area to follow suit. He believes that the initiative will help pupils to develop a strong sense of community spirit and encourage them to become active citizens and engaged members of society.

Mr Powell expressed his delight in seeing so many pupils attending the launch event and showing an interest in the Duke of Edinburgh Award. He said, "It was fantastic to see half the year group attend the launch event and show such enthusiasm for the program. We're thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity to all of our Year 9 pupils and we hope that they will take full advantage of over 30 after school clubs, events, and activities that support their social action, skills, and physical fitness. We believe that this initiative will not only benefit our pupils but will also have a positive impact on the wider community."

Overall, the launch of the Duke of Edinburgh Award at this Great Yarmouth school represents a major step forward for education in the area. It is clear that pupils are excited about the opportunities that the program will provide and are eager to make a positive difference in their local community.