The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a very popular extra-curricular activity. Participants design their own individual programme to reflect their own abilities and interests. There are four sections: Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and the Expedition. Success depends upon initiative, commitment and the ability to co-operate with others.

On average, ninety boys enrol at Bronze level from year 9 once they are fourteen. Usually over 70% succeed within a year and well over half then go on to enrol at Silver, which requires at least a year to complete. Fifty or so students regularly take up the challenge at Gold level once they enter year 12. This requires the highest level of commitment, taking at least eighteen months to complete as it includes an additional individual residential course. Increasing numbers of boys successfully gain Gold awards before leaving the school.

Expeditions are the most popular section of the Award. Bronze participants undergo training in the hills of Worcestershire using the school's own campsite, before either hiking or cycling through the Welsh borders for both the two day practice and assessed expeditions. For Silver, year 10 students complete a two day practice and a three day assessed expedition in North Wales. Gold expeditions are becoming more and more ambitious: recently our students completed their five day expedition in the eastern Pyrenees!