General News

Bronze Duke of Edinburgh

Our 4th Form pupils have returned from their training expedition in Langollen. The groups demonstrated their navigational skills walking challenging routes. They worked well in their groups to successfully complete the practice expedition in the Welsh hills.

The start points were split between Pen-y-stryt, north of Llandegla Forest, and Ponderosa, north of the Horseshoe Pass. This enabled the groups to have a wide choice of routes and each group was accompanied by a member of staff for their first legs to offer advice and ensure navigation skills were up to speed. The groups travelled quickly with good navigational skills being demonstrated with the weather being perfect for walking until mid-afternoon. The ground had dried considerably since the last expedition and five of the groups made camp before the rain arrived with the last group not far behind.

The groups established camp quickly in the shadow of Valley Crucis Abbey and Sunday saw all the groups departing on their routes by 0830. Over challenging routes there were a few incidents of not following the correct routes, but that is the aim of the practice and everyone will be fully debriefed before they undertake their qualifying expedition later in the term. All groups arrived safely and on-time at the finish point at the Trevor Aquaduct. The groups displayed a good standard of map reading, an improve understanding of campcraft and rucksack packing skills, and they took the physical challenge in their stride.

They are now ready to conquer their qualifying expedition later in the term!