About James Ruse

Education

Faculties

Curriculum

	Extra Curricular
	Cadets
	Debating
	Duke of Edinburgh
	Interact Club
	ISCF
	Music
	Prefects
	Rural Youth
	SRC

Extra Curricular : Duke of Edinburgh

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme has operated at the school for many years and there is always an enthusiastic and substantial number of students engaged in it. There are three levels of the Award - gold, silver and bronze - with participants setting themselves personal challenges at each level in each activity.

There are four sections which are designed to present a balanced program of personal developmen:

Service: designed to develop and encourage a sense of community spirit and responsibility to others
Adventurous Journey: designed to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery
Skill: designed to encourage the development of personal interests and practical skills
Physical: designed to encourage participation in physical recreation and improvement in fitness and performance

At the Gold level there is a further requirement to undertake a residential project.

Participants design their own program and select activities which interest them. There are minimum requirements of time in each section and at each level, outlined in the record book.

Enrolment in the scheme costs $70.00 upon payment of which participants receive a personal record book. This is the record of achievement and has to be maintained by the participant and signed off by assessors when a section is completed. When all sections have been fulfilled the record book is handed in and processed for the Award to be received. Bronze and Silver awards are presented at school assemblies while presentation of the Gold award is usually made by the Governor of NSW at a ceremony at Government House. In the past our students have also received their Gold Awards from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and also from HRH Prince Edward, who is the sponsor of the Scheme. Many students have completed the Scheme and continued to utilise the skills they gained from their involvement.

The Scheme is extremely enjoyable and participants remember with great pleasure some of the experiences they undergo particularly in the expedition section. The Scheme is highly regarded internationally and is favourably viewed when scholarship applications being considered.