To encourage independence, confidence, resilience and self-motivation, our school has partnered with an Award Scheme called the ‘Duke Award’. This is a prerequisite to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, a highly recognised award scheme in UK and across the world. It is aimed at helping children to learn and practice a large variety of life skills.

The Duke Awards encourage personal growth through skill development, physical activity, and varied challenges promoting a well-rounded approach to learning, whilst helping children develop important life skills outside the classroom in a fun and supportive environment.

The programme is now offered to all Year groups at Regent International School. If you wish to enrol your child/children in Key Stage 1 or Key Stage 2 and would like to learn more about the structure, activities, costs, and commitment, please join us for the information session and we will answer any questions you have.

Each year group is presented with a selection of age-appropriate challenges. The challenges aim to help children to build their confidence and expertise in areas such as First Aid, ICT, Eco awareness, Drama, Music and Sport. They will also prepare children for the future by developing valuable life skills such as cookery and puncture repair. The children will be given some of the necessary skills in school, but most of the challenges will require a good deal of time and effort out of school with friends and families.

This is the 4th year of completing the Duke Awards at RIS; feedback has been excellent, and we have seen a huge improvement in the independence and confidence of our pupils that stepped up to the challenge! This year, the award scheme will continue to be available to all children from EYFS to Year 6. Children who took part last year can now sign up again to receive their new year group’s booklet of challenges. Please note EYFS enrolment will not begin until later in the term and more information will be provided at the time.

Once signed up, when orders have arrived, your child may begin! They will choose 10 challenges to complete at home. Each challenge comes with clear instructions and can be easily completed with the resources you already have – they involve things such as car washing, walking outdoors, asking stories from elder relatives, budgeting a food shop, making a cup of tea for a family member and organising lunch for the family. The challenges are progressive and therefore older children will have more advanced challenges to complete. They will then reflect upon their new skill, enclose some evidence of them completing the task and then bring each completed challenge to school to be assessed by a Duke Leader.

Throughout the year, participants of the Duke Awards and their parents will be invited to various events to celebrate their progress and show gratitude towards our incredible school community.

On completion of the Award, a well-earned certificate and badge will be awarded and presented to the children. Children should aim to finish their challenges by the end of the academic year, as the next year will bring new challenges!