Pictured above: Pupils who successfully gained their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award with BBC Breakfast Sports Presenter, Chris Hollins at St. James Palace

On Tuesday 16th March, Old Brentwoods Caroline Green, Daniel Steptoe, Sarah-Jane Lang, Lucinda White, Emily Saunders and Neil Waring went to St. James Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award (D of E) certificates from His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh.

The hardworking former Brentwood School pupils met the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip, in groups in the Gallery at St. James's Palace where each student got to speak to the Prince individually, and was asked questions such as "What did you do?" and "Where did you go?"

The winner of Strictly Come Dancing and BBC Breakfast Sports Presenter, Chris Hollins was also in attendance at the certificate presentation, as was Brentwood School Chairman of Governors, Mr Colin Finch and Brentwood School teacher and Master in Charge of the D of E, Mr Martin McGowan.

Above: Chairman of Governors, Mr Colin Finch meets His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip

Martin McGowan commented, "The former pupils did extremely well to achieve their Gold Award successfully.  It was an honour to go to St. James's Palace and see them all receive their awards which they thoroughly deserved."

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of practical, cultural and adventurous activities, designed to support the personal and social development of young people aged 14-25, regardless of gender, background or ability.  It offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time.  

1. Service: helping the community (for example, working with a charity)
2. Skills: a hobby, skill or interest (for example, showing progress with a musical instrument)
3. Physical recreation: sports, dance, or fitness
4. Expeditions: can be by foot, bicycle, horseback, or water

The former pupils went to the Peak District for four days and three nights on their expedition which they planned, prepared and were expected to be self-sufficient and have an aim, such as a nature project. Participants aiming for the Gold Award must also take part in one additional fifth section, a residential project. The residential project must be 5 days and 4 nights away from home with unfamiliar people to achieve some form of purposeful enterprise.

At Gold Award level, participants must complete twelve months in the service section. Of the skills and physical recreation sections, one must be undertaken for twelve months and the other for six months. Participants who have not completed the Silver Award or the Bronze Award must add an extra six months in either the service section or in the skill and physical recreation sections.

 Above: Neil Waring with his Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Successful pupil Lucinda White is currently studying History at the University of Reading and Emily Saunders is at the University of Exeter studying Psychology. Sarah-Jane Lang is studying Medicine at Cambridge University; Caroline Green is studying Translation, Media with French and Spanish, Daniel Steptoe went on a GAP Year then went on to study Economics and Finance at the University of Exeter and Neil Waring is studying Architecture at the University of Edinburgh.

There are currently 80 pupils working towards the Gold Award at Brentwood School, with an additional 116 pupils involved in the Bronze Award and 60 taking Silver.

The Headmaster of Brentwood School, Ian Davies, has sat on the National Duke of Edinburgh's Award Advisory Committee as the advisor to Independent Schools for the past six years.