18 Dec 2023
On Tuesday evening 21st November Ms McKenzie, Mr. Canning, Anis Ali School Captain, Ugochi Duru School Vice-Captain and I were invited to attend NSW Parliament House for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Framework Supporters dinner function with His Royal Highness Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh, Supporters of the framework and The Duke of Edinburgh Framework Executive. As you would be aware Plumpton High School received the Whole of Year Model Australian Champion Award for 2023.
Anis Ali was invited to make a speech at the function about how the framework has and will continue to assist him in his endeavours with Ugochi Duru invited to sing. Following each of their parts a question-and-answer session was held with Ms McKenzie, Anis and Ugochi exploring their journeys and how it has and will assist them.
Liam, Anis, Tahlia and Ugochi were able to spend 10-15 minutes with Prince Edward discussing our program and structure as he seeks to make the Duke of Edinburgh Framework more accessible to students from socioeconomically disadvantaged circumstances through financial assistance and other means. I was also able to spend an extended period discussing the framework with the Duke, its implementation around the world and how our model at Plumpton High School is implemented.
About The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award
• The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is the global leader in the organising and accrediting of non-formal education through its framework. For over 60 years, this framework has been used by education providers and community organisations to accredit the non-formal learning outcomes and achievements of young people.
• The Award in Australia was started in 1959. Over 800,000 young people have participated in the Award in Australia since it began. The Award is referred to locally as the Duke of Ed.
• It was founded by HRH The Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, in conjunction with German educationalist Kurt Hahn.
• There are currently more than a million young people globally completing their own unique Award programme, via hundreds of thousands of youth-focused partners and operators, including schools, youth organisations, examination boards and youth offenders’ institutions.
• The Award is delivered around the world by schools, colleges, universities, employers, social clubs, uniformed and non-uniformed youth organisations, young offenders’ institutions, religious organisations, sports clubs, and a whole host of other civic organisations.
• The Duke of Edinburgh is Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award.
I would like to extend a sincere thanks and congratulations to both Liam Canning and Tahlia McKenzie for the incredible work they have undertaken in leading our Duke of Edinburgh Framework. I would also like to extend a sincere thanks to Hayley O’Brien for the amazing work she has undertaken in developing Ugochi’s singing that was certainly evident in last night’s performance. I thank them for their great work in preparing our outstanding students for a once in a lifetime experience that continues to support their growth as positively contributing global citizens and leaders of today and tomorrow.
On 22nd November I attended a Round Table with His Royal Highness Prince Edward the Duke of Edinburgh, the Federal Education Minister the Hon. Jason Claire, the NSW Secretary for Education Murat Dizdar, business partners and the leaders of the Duke of Edinburgh Framework nationally and internationally to discuss how the framework can be made more accessible to students in schools and circumstances such as ours.
Tim Lloyd, Principal
