Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition – April 2016

Sunshine, snow, crystal clear views, hail, strong winds and soothing sunsets - the latest Duke of Edinburgh Expedition had almost everything the British weather could offer. On Friday 29th April, nine Year 11 students, Reyan Al Rewi, Mia Bennett, Louisa Osei, Judyth Last, Nils Heising, Aidan Richards, Luke Conaghan, and Hannah Kenny embarked on a 3 day trek through the beautiful Long Mynd hills in Shropshire. These walkers had already shown exceptional stamina in the practice expedition 2 months earlier around the hills of Clun. This was the assessed expedition however, and the students would have to rely on their own team work to navigate the significant distance required to meet the Silver Duke of Edinburgh standard. Team work and stamina were only a couple of the qualities on display as all participants came through the challenge with flying colours, spirits still high and looking capable of completing a good few miles more. The pace of their progress through the often steep terrain took staff by surprise, and the required tracking from the staff assessors proved to be more difficult than anticipated. This, however, proved to be the only difficulty endured by the staff as the students were a huge credit to the school and they made the weekend a genuine pleasure. The final presentations of song, poetry and rap provided great entertainment and I hope that the other components are completed with the same energy and commitment in order to achieve the Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award certificate of which any recipient can be justly proud.

Thanks must go to the team of volunteers from the Tommies staff who sacrificed the bulk of their Bank Holiday weekend to support the students. Without Ms. Browne, Mr. Stacey, Mr. Miastowski, Mr. Howes, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Tinsley, Ms. Collins, Mr. Flood and Mr. Nolan, none of this could have been possible and we are hugely grateful for their help and fantastic humour.

Mr Bennett and Mr Saunderson
Teachers of Mathematics