On the 23rd and 24th April, pupils had the opportunity to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award, and it was a great success! Students travelled to Lambourne End in Hainault Forest for two days of adventure and challenge.
Pupils left school at 9am on Thursday. Upon arrival, they pitched their own tents and explored the famous woodland area. Thanks to practising at school beforehand, pupils were able to set up their tents quickly and confidently. Once camp was established, pupils took part in a range of adventurous outdoor activities.
After lunch, pupils completed a ropes course, where they tackled a rope‑based obstacle course over water, with some pupils even taking an unexpected dip. It was fantastic to see pupils encouraging one another throughout, with lots of laughter along the way.
Following a short break, pupils took part in mountain biking. Reaching the top of the hill provided an awe‑inspiring view for many of our young people.
One Year 10 pupil said,“Wow – what a view. I have never been to London, so this is awesome to see.”
Thursday concluded with long zip wire and archery sessions. Team spirit was incredibly high, and many pupils pushed themselves well outside of their comfort zones.
One Year 11 pupil commented, “I haven’t tried this hard at anything.”
Orienteering and camp cooking completed the day, followed by stories around the campfire and time to relax before bedtime.
On Friday, pupils took part in axe throwing before packing away camp and heading home.
Throughout the two days, students worked hard as a team and further developed their independence and life skills. This experience provided a fantastic opportunity, and all pupils involved have now achieved a nationally recognised qualification. Everyone involved should be extremely proud of their efforts, both during the trip and in the preparation leading up to it.
Upon returning, Mr Mitford, Mrs Townsend and Miss Lenton praised the pupils’ efforts and commented on the strong sense of togetherness within the group. Mr Mitford described the experience as brilliant and said that all pupils had worked incredibly hard.