A Royal Seal of Approval ( Published: 22/03/2018)
HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex meets and greets students at Whalley Range 11-18 High School in Manchester
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (commonly abbreviated to DofE), is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, that has since expanded to 144 nations and is the world’s leading youth achievement award.
As a result of becoming one of the largest female participants of the DofE in the North West and across the UK, Whalley Range 11-18 High School were recently invited to host a royal visit by HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, to showcase their great work.
Mrs McLoone, Head of PE Faculty at the school and DofE Manager, said:
We were delighted to be given the opportunity to highlight the amazing work our students do each year and their successful involvement in the DofE Award programme. Our young ladies demonstrated and presented their Volunteering, Skill, Physical and Expedition section of the DofE throughout the afternoon visit by HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex. The students were exemplary and should be very proud of their achievements and their ability to articulate their successes to our prestigious visitors.
His Royal Highness had a busy afternoon learning all about the extensive DofE programmes undertaken by the students and also enjoyed a Commonwealth themed lunch. The event culminated in the unveiling of a plaque to mark the Royal visit and commemorate the school’s success.
Mrs J. Fahey, Academy Headteacher from Sep 2020 – Aug 2024, was full of praise and commented:
The visit of HRH Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex, to our school is a fantastic accolade to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our students and staff in their work for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The DofE has inspired and transformed the lives of millions of young people from all walks of life. From volunteering to physical activities, life skills to expeditions, achieving a DofE Award is a passport to a brighter future, valued by both employers and universities.
HRH’s enthusiasm and personality made a real impression on everyone involved. It was a fantastic experience for the school, its staff and the students especially.
