Sydenham High has been praised for exceeding national achievement and participation rate targets set for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme.

According to the recently published report on DofE awards for the London Borough of Lewisham in 2016/17, Sydenham High both exceeded the 50% Achievement Rate target at 58% and increased the number of young people participating in DofE programmes last year by 9%.

The school’s DofE co-ordinator, Michael Angel, drew particular praise from the scheme’s operations manager in Lewisham, Jack Kirby, for helping to deliver the increases.

Sydenham High is a directly licensed centre for the DofE Award. Students from year 9 upwards can take part in the scheme to achieve their Bronze, Silver and eventually Gold DofE awards through volunteering, expeditions, skill building and physical activity.

In year 9 students start the Bronze award and undertake their Bronze practice expedition in the summer term with the assessed expedition in the following September of year 10. Some Year 10 students will have the opportunity to complete the Silver Award. The Gold award is offered in the Sixth Form, started in the Autumn term of year 12 and completed by the end of year 13.