SIX former pupils of King Edward’s Witley were invited to Buckingham Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards from the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The group, who were accompanied by headteacher John Attwater, left the school in 2016. They are each now studying at university, but returned for the presentation.

Former day students Godalming residents Conor Harmsworth and Matthew Reed, Elstead resident Emma Willett and Josef Peter Moore from Milford, joined by two former boarders Mohammed Unais Qasmi and Claudia Bakare (pictured above).

They all began their Duke of Edinburgh challenge in year nine, when they enrolled for the Bronze Award. King Edward’s runs a very active Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards programme and is a DofE licensing authority in its own right.

All year nine pupils participate in the Bronze Awards and around half of those progress to take the Silver Award – with only half of those pupils continuing to the highest accolade, the Gold Award, before leaving the Surrey school.

Since its creation in 1956 by The Duke of Edinburgh, the scheme has gone from strength to strength guided by the same set of principles.

The scheme, which celebrated its diamond anniversary last year, is the world’s leading youth achievement award, providing millions of 14 to 24 year-olds with the opportunity to push personal boundaries, gain new skills and enhance their qualifications.

Praising the group on their success, Mr Attwater said: “The Duke of Edinburgh’s scheme is recognised all over the world, and achieving the Gold Award is a very significant milestone, as the ceremony testified.

“Because they are required to demonstrate a significant level of commitment, undertaking a range of volunteering, sports, skills and expedition related challenges, pupils who are successful have provided clear evidence of their personal motivation, independence, determination and drive, traits which are increasingly being sought out by universities and future employers.”