Once again the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) contributed a great many hours to the College’s community action efforts helping to instil in our pupils a sense of service and selflessness. Young peoples’ activities ranged from helping with the Scouts and Brownies and sustainable projects in Cheltenham, to teaching in Romanian schools and conservation in Africa further afield. We continue to be proud of our expedition offering in the face of ever-increasing concerns around risk and safety, and the level of challenge it brings to our pupils.

There was an uptake of more than 70 Third Formers for the Bronze Award and they went to the Forest of Dean for their two day expedition, battling with the difficulty of navigating forests. I’m pleased to say that they acquitted themselves very well indeed and despite wrong turns, all arrived at the destinations in one piece having learned a great deal along the way.

Silver Award participants went to the Lake District again on what is now a customary trip and undertook the unusual hybrid of a canoeing and walking expedition, ending at the stunning and remote High Row in the hills above Ullswater. That was followed by fun in the ghylls and climbing ‘inside the mine’ at Honister.

Gold undertook their expeditions in Snowdonia tackling new routes and coping very well with the wet and windy elements only to be expected in the UK. Some worn out pupils were brought back to Cheltenham on 4th July – with staff just making it to general election voting duties(!) – but smiling faces told of a great experience and a great many life lessons of self- sufficiency and resilience learned.

At all expedition levels a lack of mobile phones or access to social media is part of the deal and such a tech detox is hugely appreciated by pupils and parents alike in the modern world – a sound reason in itself for doing DofE.

Mr John Jones