Duke of Edinburgh Award

Since September 2020, GEMS Metropole School has provided students with the opportunity to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. This prestigious and globally recognized program prepares young people for life and work, and its participation has grown significantly over the years. At GEMS Metropole, we believe that not all learning happens in the classroom. To become committed, responsible, and fulfilled future leaders, young people need experiences beyond the classroom. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award offers these essential experiences, helping students develop into well-rounded individuals ready to lead in the global community. 

What is the Duke of Edinburgh's International Award?

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, also known as DofE, The Head of State Award, The President's Award Scheme, The International Award for Young People, and the Governor General's Youth Award, is available to all 14-24 year olds and is the world’s leading youth achievement award. This prestigious global program empowers young people through a balanced mix of physical recreation, skill development, volunteer service, and adventurous journeys.

A key component of the Award is the preparation and training for expeditions, where students plan and undertake challenging journeys. This experience enhances their leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. By participating, students foster independence and self-reliance, gaining confidence and resilience through setting personal goals and navigating challenges independently.

Please see the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award website for more details: http://intaward.org/

Why take part in The International Award?

Universities and employers increasingly seek candidates who are well-prepared for the next step in their careers, emphasizing not just academic achievements but also personal and social development. The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award significantly contributes to this development by helping to develop:

• • Self-reliance and resilience: Fostering confidence to navigate challenges independently, reflecting leadership strength.

  • Accountability and responsibility: Developing a sense of duty and ownership, critical for effective leadership.

  • Discovery of new talents and skills: Encouraging exploration and mastery of new abilities, key for adaptive leadership.

  • Collaborative leadership and teamwork: Enhancing the ability to lead within a team and work effectively with others.

  • Community engagement and contribution: Learning to give back and learn from others, fostering community leadership.

  • Independent thinking and initiative: Promoting proactive decision-making and action, hallmarks of strong leadership.

  • Building meaningful relationships: Developing strong interpersonal connections, essential for influential leadership.

  • Essential life skills: Mastering problem-solving, presentation, and communication skills, foundational for leadership and independence.

This academic year we have had 52 students across Year 10 and Year 11 undertaking their Bronze Award in Term 2. The groups were assigned a route that challenged their navigational skills while also allowing time to explore the surrounding area to fulfill their Journey aims. Having participated in the Practice Journey in Term 1, the students were thoroughly prepared and made essential adjustments to their equipment, planning, and organization for their qualifying journeys. As a result, their expeditions were a tremendous success, with all groups showing significant improvements and progress.

We would like to congratulate the following students on achieving their Bronze Award and look forward to many more students attaining this esteemed recognition in the future.

Naisha Chawla
Thrity Driver
Syeda Eeman Hussain
Komila Kadirova
Maria Rondon
Gabriela Digori
Meray Mourad
Adam Nezar Moussa
Amr Elwardany
Samir Seikaly
Ryan Thomas
Claudiu Andrei Marian
Sasa Topic
Aditi Agarwal
Shazia Maskati
Uliana Fomina
Zara Aslam
Anaya Deshpande
Avantika Sood
Tanvi Rajesh
Syed Qasim
Behnam Kheirabadi and Marcos Alvarez Reynolds

What is the Junior Duke Program?

The Junior Duke program has been launched for primary aged children to encourage and develop valuable life skills and help build their self-confidence. This program gives children the opportunity to complete sets of challenges designed to teach life skills such as changing a tyre, sewing, cooking and much more! There are different Junior Duke Awards; Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Ultimately, the Junior Duke Program teaches children to ‘have a go’ and builds resilience for the children to become independent leaders.

What are the benefits of the Junior Duke Program?

• Bringing families together
• Helping build a community feel
• Creating natural conversation
• Giving a feeling of belonging
• Creating opportunities for parental links
• Finding and developing independence
• Discovering self sufficiency
• Increasing resilience families

What is the Micro and Mini Duke Program?

At our school, we are proud to offer the Micro and Mini Duke Programs—designed specifically for our youngest learners. These programs serve as the perfect introduction to the highly successful Junior Duke initiative, giving children the chance to develop essential life skills through age-appropriate challenges.

The Micro Duke (FS2) encourages curiosity and practical engagement through simple but meaningful tasks. Activities may include learning to tie shoelaces, identifying household items, or making a sandwich—all of which help foster independence and confidence from an early age.

The Mini Duke (for Years 1 and 2) builds on this foundation by introducing slightly more complex tasks such as basic gardening, following a recipe, or understanding simple road safety. These activities continue to promote resilience, self-reliance, and a sense of accomplishment in a nurturing environment.

Both programs align with the overarching philosophy of the Junior Duke: encouraging children to ‘have a go,’ step outside their comfort zone, and grow into confident, capable individuals.

Benefits of the Micro and Mini Duke Programs:

• Lays the groundwork for lifelong independence
• Builds early confidence through small, achievable successes
• Strengthens family and school connections
• Promotes hands-on, practical learning
• Encourages problem-solving and responsibility from a young age
• Creates joyful, memorable moments of learning
• Nurtures a strong sense of belonging and community

Looking Ahead: The Nano Duke

We are excited to announce that in the 2025/2026 academic year, we will be launching the Nano Duke—a new program tailored especially for our youngest pupils, including those in Nursery or Pre-Reception. The Nano Duke will offer gentle, guided challenges that support early development, motor skills, and social-emotional learning through fun and purposeful play. Stay tuned for more details!