This Year’s Highlights

• We had over 125 applicants for Bronze—breaking school records yet again and surpassing almost every school in Warwickshire.
• 118 students completed the Bronze expedition.
• Due to the exceptionally high number of participants, NLS became the largest state-education DofE provider in Warwickshire, and one of the leading providers nationally when comparing the percentage of students completing awards.
• We achieved one of the highest completion rates in the country, with 81% of students finishing their award—described by DofE nationally as “far above the DofE average for England and an incredible achievement for the school.”
• Students completed 5,538 hours of volunteering in the local community, equating to £35,442 of social value contributed in the last 12 months.
• Alongside their expeditions, students took part in physical activities, learnt new skills, and contributed through volunteering—developing the confidence, independence and resilience the Award is known for.
• This year we also began realising our vision of using our own former students as DofE Young Leaders. Our first group of Young Leaders joined us on expedition, giving up time from their university lives, to support and guide our younger participants.
• Looking ahead, we have four new Young Leaders joining in 2026 and a further twelve the following year—an incredible indicator of the strength of the programme and the desire of our students to return and give back.

Bronze Celebrations

For the Bronze Award students have successfully completed four sections

• Volunteering - three months
• Physical - three months
• Skills-development - three months
• Plus a further three months in either the volunteering, physical or skills section
• An expedition - two days and one night

Our Bronze participants faced the full range of British weather this year in their expedition—from ice-covered tents during the April practice night to glorious sunshine on the qualifying expedition. The practice expedition was challenging but successful: students became familiar with the tents, trangias, routes, maps and navigation skills. Camping overnight was certainly an experience, and walking through the local countryside was wonderful.

On the qualifying weekend, students carried everything they needed—tents, clothing, food, sleeping bags—and took responsibility for setting up camp, cooking, and practising good campcraft. We are incredibly proud of them all.

Growth occurs outside our comfort zone, and our Bronze participants were certainly taken outside theirs. It was remarkable to watch them grow: learning from mistakes, adapting quickly, becoming more self-reliant, communicating better, collaborating, making decisions, accepting responsibility and supporting one another. These are the skills our young people need as they grow beyond home and school—and it is for this reason that their awards are so deserved.

We are delighted that so many Bronze participants last year have already signed up for Silver this year.

 

Silver and Gold Celebrations

On Thursday 27 November, it was the turn of our Silver and Gold students to be celebrated.

For the Silver award students have again completed four sections over a longer timespan: Volunteering, Physical, and Skills, followed by an Expedition. They have committed at least six months to Volunteering and either six months for one section (Physical or Skills) and three months for the other. The expedition was a minimum of  three days and two nights.  

We remembered the cold training day that began their Silver journey, followed by the practice expedition in the Peak District. As with all our expeditions this year, the weather was kind, and students completed long days of walking—around seven hours each day. They were an absolute credit to their parents, to the school and to themselves.

One of the most wonderful aspects of DofE is the absence of phones or devices on the expeditions. Students simply enjoyed each other’s company—talking, laughing, playing games, and being young people. This Silver group embraced this fully.

During the qualifying expedition in July, the weather was unusually hot. Students coped brilliantly, managing the conditions well and we arranged extra water stops and electrolytes. They should be incredibly proud.

 

Finally, our Gold cohort.  They have completed five sections: Volunteering (12 months), Physical (12 months), Skills (six months), Expedition (four days/three nights) and the Gold-only Residential. 

They are a special group—not only because many have completed Bronze, Silver and Gold all through North Leamington School, but also because they are among the strongest navigators we have ever trained. We can confidently say each of our Gold participants could hold their own against anyone completing the Hill and Moorland Leader Award training some of our staff have completed.

Their Gold journey began on a crisp Thursday in March in the Dark Peak, followed by a practice expedition in the Brecon Beacons in June, and finally their qualifying expedition in Snowdonia. Video footage, shown at the awards evening, captured beautifully the landscape and the challenges they faced and overcame.

Our Gold students will receive their awards at Buckingham Palace in May—a fitting culmination to years of commitment and effort.

 

We look forward to welcoming our new Bronze participants this year, supporting those progressing to Silver, and celebrating our new Gold cohort beginning their journey.

We really appreciated everyone who could join us for our Duke of Edinburgh Award evenings. Thank you to the parents and carers for supporting their child and enabling them to take part in DofE and to our students for being the exceptional people you are and for making this programme such a joy to run.