Family members, affiliated teaching staff, Principal Neil McGarry, Head of Secondary Mrs Holly Stroud and the Regional Head of the School, Mr Karl Wilkinson were amongst the invitees at the event, where Mr Davidson, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy welcomed the students and congratulated them for their fantastic achievement.



Following the opening speeches from Mr Davidson, Mr McGarry and Award Leader Ms Charlotte Ward, during which the students were praised for their exceptional dedication, commitment and resilience, the award winners gave a detailed, informative and very entertaining presentation about the various sections of the Gold Duke of Edinburgh International Award programme.

Mr Davidson then presented the students with their Gold Award certificates and highly prized, gold pins. This wonderful celebratory event brought to a close the Duke of Edinburgh award journey for Fanni, Zeyu, Kevin and Angus. They hope to inspire others with their stories!



One of the awardees, Zeyu shares his Duke of Edinburgh experience:

"For me, the most enjoyable and unforgettable memory was the expedition. I went on a 80 km hike with my teammates and I would not have been able to finish it, if I didn’t have my friend’s support. It was very challenging. I had an 18 kg heavy bag and walked and climbed 20km per day. But it was fun that we had a chance to really explore nature and talk to each other. It was a unique memory!

Ms Ward and the other teachers were very helpful. D of E taught me about daily routine and friendships and exploring beyond my own comfort zone. The celebration was also fun. I didn’t expect it to be that entertaining. I had never experienced a traditional UK celebration ceremony!”

The Duke of Edinburgh International Award provides a framework for students to challenge themselves with different activities outside the classroom. It demonstrates the school’s commitment to offering high- quality extra-curricular provision to complement excellent academic attainment.

The components of the award also reflect the school’s desire to equip students with relevant life skills that will serve them well as they make their way into Higher Education and employment.

"We are incredibly proud of our gold award winners! They have shown a tremendous amount of commitment and endeavour. To be four of the first five to ever achieve the award in Hungary is really special." - Principal Neil McGarry

Click here to virtually visit Britannica International School, Budapest

Photos by Russell Skidmore