The Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award celebration event is held in the Garden of Buckingham Palace each year and is hosted by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. The event take place outside with approximately 6,000 people in attendance and this year, we were delighted to see Shiplake represented!
Each year the Garden of Buckingham Palace is transformed into a festival-style celebration for award holders and their loved ones to celebrate the amazing achievement of completing the Gold DofE Award.
There are four main sections of a DofE Award: physical, skills, volunteering and the expedition section. Additionally, at Gold, there is also the opportunity to take part in an exciting fifth section – the Residential - which is a unique and rewarding component of the Gold Award, designed to take participants out of their usual environments and immerse them in a shared experience with individuals they may not know. The residential involves spending five days and four nights away from home, working on a shared project or activity with peers from diverse backgrounds.
For pupils at Shiplake completing the Gold Duke of Edinburgh, the focus shifts towards leadership, independence, and making a significant contribution to the community. Pupils are not just completing a series of tasks – they are shaping themselves into responsible, motivated young adults capable of leading others. The emphasis is on commitment, excellence, and long-term personal development.
This year, we had one current Shiplake pupil and three Old Vikings present at the celebration event. A massive well done to Harry Saker (24O), Monty Walker (24O), Jack Lynskey (22E), and current Year 13 pupil J Vivian for completing their award!
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