HRH Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh delivered an inspiring speech before taking time to walk through the beautiful palace gardens, meeting students who had successfully achieved their Gold Awards and listening to their incredible stories. The event was filled with inspirational speakers, a wonderful atmosphere and, of course, the obligatory tea and cake!

At Birches Head Academy, the DofE programme continues to grow from strength to strength, with record numbers of students taking part in both Bronze and Silver Awards this year. We are incredibly proud of the commitment, resilience and teamwork our students show throughout their DofE journey.

We hope many of our current participants will continue on to complete their Gold Award when they move on to college, giving them the opportunity to experience special events like this at Buckingham Palace and celebrate their achievements on a national stage.