Rydal Penrhos’ pupils on the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award got some valuable experience ahead of an upcoming milestone.
The candidates at Rydal Penrhos have shown exemplary effort during the first few weeks of the academic year as they look to attain their Silver Awards, which is one step below a prestigious Gold accolade that also results in a trip to a royal venue in a special presentation ceremony.
Due to COVID-19 measures across the country preventing the pupils from taking part in their usual excursions, they did manage to fit in their practice expedition prior to the local lockdown, which took place in the heart of Snowdonia and was led by the school’s passionate Duke of Edinburgh programme leader, Dr Jim Lewis.
Despite weather being less than kind to the contingent on the first day, they split into two groups and hiked from Dolgarrog to the Ogwen Valley, tackling remote bogs and mires, mist and driving rain.
Each pupil showed tremendous resilience throughout day one of the expedition, building key skills such as teamwork and communication in the process.
Fortunately for staff and pupils alike, the weather was much sunnier on Sunday for their final day of trekking, which allowed them to take in the picturesque landscape and changing autumnal colours of the woods before finishing off a very successful expedition in Betws-y-Coed.
This will stand them in good stead ahead of the Silver qualifying expedition in the coming months, which will be held in a safe environment once coronavirus pandemic restrictions are relaxed.
Rydal Penrhos has had a significant amount of success from its Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme in recent years, with many pupils going on to achieve the Gold standard.
The school is a DofE Directly Licensed Centre and offers all three levels of the Award, beginning with Bronze in Year 9, continuing on to Silver in Years 10 & 11, and culminating with the prestigious Gold Award in Years 12 & 13.
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Rydal Penrhos is now able to offer private tours to prospective pupils and their families.
For more information email admissions@rydalpenrhos.com or book online at https://rydal.wpengine.com/open-days-visits.