Alumnae at a girls’ school had the chance to visit Buckingham Palace Garden for an awards celebration event.

Northwood College for Girls has encouraged many of its pupils to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and was delighted when representatives from the school attended one of the first Gold Duke of Edinburgh celebration events since the Covid pandemic.

During the event at the Palace gardens, past pupils were able to gain career advice from successful business leaders and entrepreneurs.

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Dominique Olaleye, one former student, said: “Completing the Duke of Edinburgh award from bronze to gold was a fantastic achievement for me.

“Despite completing the award in 2019, the memories and lessons that I have taken away from this experience are still prominent in my mind, and we still laugh and joke about the times shared on the expeditions."

Watford Observer: DofE participants from Northwood College for GirlsDofE participants from Northwood College for Girls

A gold DofE programme is a demanding, non-competitive personal challenge, which takes a minimum of 12 months to complete as those taking part must pass the expedition, skills, physical, volunteering and residential sections.

Rebecca Brown, head of Northwood College, said: “My team and I work tirelessly to motivate, stretch, challenge and support each student at Northwood.

“We take them out of their comfort zone via an invigorating portfolio of opportunities, each designed to help build resilience and confidence, and to enable the girls to face future challenges with confidence and self-assurance, fully prepared for their further education and ultimately, success within the 21st Century workplace.”

Watford Observer: Northwood College for Girls. Credit: Street ViewNorthwood College for Girls. Credit: Street View

This year 66 participants achieved bronze awards, 44 silver and 18 gold.

The headteacher believes that the course can help encourage young students to never be intimidated in life and never to be limited by glass ceilings.

She added: “From next year, we will offer our gold DofE award holders the opportunity to enter the Lowland Leader Award, which will allow them to lead their own groups and become DofE instructors.

“We are also excited about launching our first ever DofE style expedition to parents of our pupils - thus encouraging our whole school community to challenge themselves and adopt the true NWC spirit for embracing adventure!”

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