The Duke of Edinburgh Gold practice expedition could arguably be said to be more difficult than the assessed. Nine students in Year 12, along with Miss Evans, Mr Stapleton, Miss Mackay and Mr Bannister, gathered on Thursday 18th April at 7am to make their way to the Lake District for three days of walking, climbing and navigating.
The practice expedition allows students to see how they could plan for their assessed weekend more efficiently, and this was evident in the weight of some of their bags! Carrying tents and cooking equipment way up above Cat Bells was a wake-up call for many. However, these students showed true grit and determination in the face of brutal weather conditions. Hail, sleet, strong winds and wet feet, would have drowned out most people’s positivity- but not Year 12.
They slept in cosy conditions in tents with their teammates, and thankfully they were dry on the first night. The second night was not wet but very cold, allowing them to recognise not only their luxuries at home but also the unique adventure of the weekend.
When asked what their ‘peak and pit’ of the weekend was, students said the first mountain was physically tough (made worse by the weather), but breaking routine and being able to see the beauty of the countryside outside of the city was, without doubt, their peak. They have achieved a physically and mentally challenging feat, which has added a string to their UCAS bow, but more than that, it has proved to them that something difficult is not impossible.
