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This week saw our first set of certificates awarded to students in Years 10 and 11 upon the completion of their Bronze or Silver awards.

We had 17 Bronze certificates and three Silver certificates (with more following immediately after).  The impact this has on our local community cannot be underestimated as these young people will have contributed a minimum of 276 hours of volunteering in a variety of projects from supporting Park Run in cold, wet and miserable conditions, volunteering in local libraries, supporting youth groups and helping at a residential home for people with Dementia.

On top of this, students have also given at least 720 hours to personal development in physical and skill sections, including a competitive climber, rowing, swimming, badminton (and surprisingly no football – yet!), with playing an instrument being the most popular skill.

The expedition weekends are often a highlight for the students.  This was our first year using an external provider for this and what an experience the students had - from the rolling hills of the North Downs for our Bronze participants to the more undulating (and windy) Peak District for Silver. 

Whilst many of us like the idea of ‘getting away from it all’ it was refreshing to hear one young lady comment that she really enjoyed not having her phone during the weekend and working with students she wouldn’t usually mix with in school – this is the very ethos of the Duke of Edinburgh's experience.

The Duke of Edinburgh's programme supports students' development into well rounded individuals and none of it can be done without the support of the staff who willingly give up personal time to sleep in tents and see the students in a very different light – I am sure it is compensated by the copious amounts of homemade cake they are rewarded with!

I look forward to many more certificate celebrations and being part of this very special journey with our young people.

Mrs Pickett, Duke of Edinburgh Manager