On Friday 6 March, Mrs Michelle Carroll, Ms Skye Stansfield and I, had the pleasure of attending the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Ceremony at Government House, hosted by Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria and St Catherine’s Old Girl in the presence of HRH Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex KG GCVO.

During 2017 and 2018, St Catherine’s School celebrated five students completing their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. These students included 2017 leavers Lucy Skyrme-Jones, Hannah Otto, Sophie Seng-Hpa, Maggie Yang and Stephanie Ritchie (2010). Our students were among 66 students who completed the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award to be presented at this year’s ceremony.  We were extremely proud of the achievements of these girls. In celebrating the achievements of each St Catherine’s Student that has completed the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, we will create an Honour Board to acknowledge their achievements. The Honour Board will be located in the Ruth Langley Research and Learning Centre on our School campus.

The Duke of Edinburgh International Award is a youth achievement Award Program designed to combine practical experiences and life skills development to prepare youth for life. In reading, Promoting Youth Development Worldwide: The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, written by Eva van Baren, Marieke Meelen and Lucas Meijs, the benefits of experiential learning or, learning by doing were highlighted for assisting in promoting life skills, as experienced on the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.

There are four components of the Awards scheme, “designed to provide a balanced program of personal development primarily aimed at engaging young people in purposeful activities with a focus on gaining knowledge, broaden horizons and accumulating a diversity of experiences,” (Baren, Meelen, Meis, 2015). The International Award Foundation are aware of the challenges young people face now, more than ever, and the need for more support in preparing for adult life.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme was established in 1956, based on the original ideas from Kurt Hahn, a German philosopher and educationalist. For those who have watched the Netflix Series, The Crown, Hahn was Head Teacher at Godonstoun in Scotland, where HRH The Duke of Edinbugh completed his Moray Badge, a precursor to the Duke of Edinburgh awards. Through the creation of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, Hahn’s idea of a national award was conceived. Each award involves the participation and completion of four components, including Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and the Adventurous Journey. Achievement in each of these sections is based on personal improvement and development within each of the levels. The picture below shows each of the sections and requirements for each of the awards.

It is well known participation in extra-curricular activities assists in the preparation and experience of creating ‘the whole child’. In reading a report titled, What is the real value of extra-curricular in the university application process? produced by World Challenge, the key findings in tertiary acceptance in the UK were:

1. Whilst academic grades are the most important factor considered by university admissions teams (with 89.2% of admissions teams identifying this as one of the two main things they look for), evidence of extra-curricular activities remains an important part of the application process for 97% of respondents. Universities most value evidence of extra-curricular activities when deciding between applicants with similar grades
2. More than half of universities (58.5%) believe that it is now more important for students to demonstrate experience beyond academic achievements in their university applications compared with 10 years ago, with only 4.6% saying that it is now less important.

Over the last week, six Year 10 St Catherine’s students have undertaken a six day journey on the Great Alpine Walk. Through opportunities available in the Trips and Exchanges Program at St Catherine’s School, the students are able to complete the Adventurous Journey component for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program. The group left St Catherine’s School on Monday 9 April and have walked from Mt Hotham to finish at Watch Bed Creek. These girls have learned navigation techniques and calculating time and distance through the day as well as personal resourcefulness and so much more. With the influence of Mr Stephen Brown, St Catherine’s Mathematics and Physics teacher, there has been the application and use of Mathematics and Physics in their daily adventures too. On their journey the group saw wild brumbies around Mt Jim, whilst taking in the idyllic scenery along the way. The group have been learning about better weatherproofing and the need for organisation, efficiency and working together as a group.

For further information on the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, please contact myself or Ms Skye Stansfield, Years 9 and 10 Programs Coordinator.

References

van Baren, E., Meelen, M., & Meijs, L. C. (2015). Promoting Youth Development Worldwide: The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Journal of Youth Development, 10(1), 106-118.

In brief, “What is the real value of extra-curricular in the university application process?” retrieved from http://www.dukeofed.com.au/about-the-award/award-benefits/employability/award-holders/ 13 April 2018.