Extra curricular ‘awards’

[ILiveInSalemsLot]

Do your kids do any ‘awards’ while in secondary schools?
I know lots do duke of Edinburgh but what are the others like Duke of York iDea and Crest like?
Is it worth doing any of those or any other that people know of?

Depends on what you mean by worth?

Are they intrinsically valuable and good opportunities for your child to develop as a person? Yep.

Are they any use to include in a personal statement for an RG university? No. Great for the individual though.

Ds doesn’t want to go to university so it’s more about gaining skills and having something to put on a cv.
He’s doing fine at school so is looking for something alongside his GCSEs.
I’d never heard of the duke of York iDeas and was hoping that someone could shed some light. He’s interested in science and tech.

I can't say anything specifically about the award as I'd not heard of it before this thread, but, if it is something that looks interesting to your ds, then it is probably a good thing. Like AussieJazz said, if it is something that engages, or even better enthuses your ds, then it is good for his own worth.

It will also give him something to talk about with a passion at interviews. That will set him apart from those who haven't engaged in anything.

DofE was excellent for DD1's general development. The volunteering gave her a potential career, the physical a second hobby, and the expedition showed her she can push herself more than she realised.

DD2 won't be doing it as it will be too much for her.

Viewing any enrichnent as some tick box credit for jobs/university is a mistake.