Students at Ponteland High School have made a remarkable contribution to their local community through volunteering as part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, students taking part in the Award gave 1,859 hours of their time to volunteering, with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award estimating the social value of those hours at £14,034.
The figure reflects the continued growth of the Duke of Edinburgh programme at Ponteland High School, with high numbers of students taking part at Bronze, Silver and Gold level and contributing their time to a wide range of organisations, groups and causes.
Mr J Greenshields, Deputy Headteacher at Ponteland High School, said:
“Our Duke of Edinburgh programme has gone from strength to strength, and this recognition is a real credit to the students who have given their time so generously and to the staff who work incredibly hard to make these opportunities possible.
“The volunteering figure is particularly significant because it shows that the impact of the Award goes well beyond school. Nearly 1,900 hours have been given back to communities and organisations, with a social value of more than £14,000. That is a superb contribution from our young people.
“Duke of Edinburgh also develops exactly the sort of transferable skills we want our students to leave school with – resilience, independence, teamwork, organisation, problem-solving and the confidence to take on new challenges. These are skills that will serve them well in further education, employment and throughout their lives.”
The Award requires young people to commit to volunteering alongside developing a skill, improving their physical fitness and completing an expedition. The programme forms an important part of Ponteland High School’s wider commitment to personal development and enrichment, encouraging students not simply to achieve academically but to become active and responsible members of their communities.
Mr Greenshields added:
“We are enormously proud of what our students have achieved, but we are also excited about what comes next. This summer we are looking forward to seeing what we expect will be a record number of Ponteland High School students complete their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award which leads to a celebration at Buckingham Palace.
“For us, that represents something really positive – young people developing themselves while also contributing to the communities and local economy around them. We are very grateful to the staff, especially programme co-ordinator Mr Allman, volunteers, families and local organisations who help make that possible.”
The school hopes to continue expanding participation in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and providing even more students with the opportunity to challenge themselves, develop valuable skills and make a positive contribution beyond the school gates.