As part of our ongoing wellbeing and skills based learning at Pennthorpe, we are delighted to offer all children from Reception to Year 8 the opportunity to take part in the Duke Award. This award, inspired by the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, aims to equip children with suitable life skills that have through time, begun to disappear from daily life for some households, encouraging children to learn through their mistakes and develop their resilience to ‘try again’.
There are nine awards tailored to each year group: Micro Duke (Reception), Silver and Gold Mini Duke (Years 1 & 2), Bronze, Silver and Gold Junior Duke (Years 3 – 6), and Silver and Gold Senior Duke (Years 7 & 8). Each award is divided into 10 different challenges of which the children must complete a minimum of seven successfully. Challenges may include tying shoelaces, first aid, languages, domestic skills, music, art, sport, puncture repair, eco-activity, knot tying, planning a trip and personal interest. Children have the academic year to complete their award and they will be supported and advised in school, but most challenges will require some time and effort independently at home.
Each child has received their own Micro Duke, Mini Duke or Junior Duke booklet with the challenges explained in full and Years 7 and 8 have received their online account details. These booklets and online accounts are to record and comment on their achievements and there are spaces to glue or upload photographs of themselves completing each task. On completion, they will be presented with a certificate and badge at the end of term Huddle and house points will be awarded.
The Duke Award will commence in earnest, from January 2024.
