The Junior Duke program is an engaging and enriching initiative designed to help students develop essential life skills, resilience, and independence through a wide range of challenges. Inspired by the principles of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, this program encourages children to step out of their comfort zones, try new activities, and cultivate a sense of achievement. Tailored to suit younger students, the Junior Duke offers age-appropriate tasks that promote creativity, problem-solving, teamwork, and perseverance. By participating in this program, your child will not only gain practical skills but also build confidence and a strong sense of personal responsibility, setting the foundation for future success.  

Bringing families together

Junior Duke reaches far beyond the classroom – the whole family can get involved with completing a variety of challenges.

Creating opportunities for parental links

Many schools make use of parents’ skills to run this Award whilst others enjoy having the non-academic Award to enable new-found discussion about children’s strengths and weaknesses.

Helping build a community feel

By completing their level and being celebrated in school, children feel a sense of being ‘in it together’. Teachers’ involvement in assessing creates bonds which may otherwise not happen.

Family fun!

Learning a skill for a challenge should be practised repeatedly. Thereafter, once parents understand how capable their children are, a new world of family adventures opens up!

Finding and developing independence

Giving children the space to learn new skills and do things on their own gives them a sense of pride and accomplishment in a non-academic setting.

Creating natural conversation

Many children love talking to teachers they don’t know and sharing their achievements. Others are nervous to do so but soon realise being pushed to speak to unknown adults can be fun. Corridor conversations will become very interesting!

Discovering self sufficiency

Children naturally develop a ‘can do’ attitude when they are responsible for doing something for themselves and can see success.

Giving a feeling of belonging

Children will develop new friendships as they work through their level together – and may even compete to see who can complete challenges the fastest! Feeling pride that they earned points for their House or Class really boosts a feeling of belonging.

Increasing resilience

By having space to grow and make mistakes, children will be inspired to work through their setbacks to achieve success.

A welcome side-product

With the feeling of achievement and success through the non academic challenges, growth and improvement can often be seen in academics.