Ashford School Pupils Celebrated at Buckingham Palace for DofE Gold Awards

Fifteen pupils from Ashford School were invited to Buckingham Palace this May to receive their prestigious Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award at the Gold Award Presentations.

The DofE Gold Award Presentations, held on 20 and 22 May 2026, were spectacular festival-style garden parties hosted by HRH the Duke of Edinburgh as part of the charity’s 70th anniversary celebrations. Thousands of young people from across the UK gathered in the magnificent Buckingham Palace Gardens to celebrate their achievements, with military bands, lawn games and traditional afternoon tea helping to create a memorable occasion.

The event marked another significant milestone for Ashford School’s flourishing Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme. Last year, a record 34 Ashford pupils attended the Gold Award Presentations, with a further 12 pupils receiving their awards this year. These outstanding completion rates are a testament to the dedication, perseverance and ambition of Ashford pupils, as well as the strength of the School’s co-curricular provision.

The success looks set to continue. A further 23 pupils are currently completing their Gold Award, having recently returned from their qualifying expedition, which involved Nordic skiing across the Italian and Austrian Alps.

Representing the School at Buckingham Palace was Deputy Head (Co-Curricular), Mr Toby Grieves, who attended to congratulate the award recipients and celebrate their remarkable achievements.

Mr Grieves said, “It was a privilege to attend the recent Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award Presentation at Buckingham Palace and to meet up with our recent leavers who achieved this outstanding honour over the past academic year. It was wonderful to see them again and to celebrate what is a true testament to their hard work, resilience and commitment.”

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award is the highest level of the Award scheme and requires participants to demonstrate sustained commitment through volunteering, physical activity, skills development, an expedition and a residential experience. The continued growth and success of the programme at Ashford School reflects the determination of its pupils and the dedication of the staff who support them throughout their DofE journey.

As another cohort progresses towards Gold Award completion, Ashford School remains proud of its reputation for delivering one of the country’s leading Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programmes, helping young people develop confidence, resilience and skills for life.