The Junior Duke Award
The Junior Duke Award is celebrated globally for its positive impact on young learners. It equips children with essential life skills and fosters qualities such as perseverance, cooperation, and motivation—values we strongly support at Eccleston Mere.
The Junior Duke Award is designed to support the personal development of children aged 3 to 11 (Nursery: Saplings to Year 6) by helping them acquire a wide range of life skills. While the overarching programme is called The Junior Duke Award, each year group participates at a level tailored to their age:
· Nursery (Saplings): Nano Duke
· Reception: Micro Duke
· Year 1: Silver Mini Duke
· Year 2: Gold Mini Duke
· Year 3: Bronze Junior Duke
· Year 4: Silver Junior Duke
· Year 5: Gold Junior Duke
· Year 6: Platinum Junior Duke
Each level includes a variety of challenges that cover skills, such as First Aid, ICT, Eco Awareness, Drama, Music, Sport, and practical life skills, like cookery and puncture repair. While pupils will receive guidance in school, many challenges require time, effort, and support at home
How does it work in our school?
Each child has their own Junior Duke journal.
Each journal contains 10 activities (14 for Year 6) which will be completed over the academic year.
At the start of each month, teachers introduce one focus activity. Where possible, teacher's explain, demonstrate, or show a video to help pupils understand the task.
Throughout the month, children work on mastering the skill through repetition and by collecting evidence—such as photographs or written entries-explaining how they completed the task.
Pupils present their evidence to a teacher once they feel confident in the skill. To have an activity signed off, children should aim to provide three different pieces of evidence. Parents are also encouraged to sign and comment on some activities in the journal.
Although one activity is highlighted in school each month, pupils may work on other tasks at their own pace. However, we encourage children not to rush through the award.
Upon successful completion of 7 out of 10 activities (or 10 out of 14 for Year 6), pupils receive a certificate and badge in recognition of their achievement.
