Mr Ellis (Duke of Edinburgh Manager)

The Easter break signalled the start of the Gold expeditions with a trip to the Peak District for the practice expedition. By the time the participants make it to the Gold level, the expeditions not only become longer, four days and three nights, but the terrain changes as the girls are required to walk in what DofE terms as ‘Wild Country’. For this, the girls walked in the areas of Bleaklow and around the edges of Kinder Scout, chosen for their remoteness.

As always, the April weather proved changeable, with any memories of sun and short sleeves long gone only to be replaced with daytime temperatures that seldom went above five degrees. In a bid to use exercise as a method to generate warmth, the girls decided to challenge Mr Bowden (Head of Physics), who is the current record holder of quickest tent pitched, to a race. At their first attempt the girls struck gold with a win however, the rematch went Mr Bowden’s way and so with the series tied, all will be settled on the assessed expedition.

Despite the extra challenges of distance, remoteness and the weather, the girls remained in excellent spirits showing a level of resilience that should help stand them in good stead for life beyond school.

Although this was only the practice expedition, the girls operated at such a high level of proficiency that it could have easily been the assessed expedition they were on and with this in mind, it is onto the Yorkshire Dales in August for assessment.

Lower Sixth participants - Erin Knight, Sophie Parry, Bryony Fleming and Olivia Benjamin.