PUPILS from Barry Comprehensive are being given the chance to take up a Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Last September, 17 Year 10 students enrolled on the bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

They worked hard throughout the year to complete a personal programme of activities as well as training for their practice and qualifying expeditions.

The DofE is a real adventure from beginning to end, offering participants new experiences and challenges together with opportunities to discover talents they never thought they had.

Programmes are available at three levels for different age groups, which when completed, lead to bronze, silver or gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

The award is achieved by completing four sections (five if aiming for gold) – volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and for gold, a residential.

Barry Comp's DofE students were especially active during the summer term.

On June 27, they travelled to the Gower for their overnight practice expedition. In four groups, the students practised their navigation skills by taking it in turns to read the map and lead their group to specified check points along their route. At the campsite, they also demonstrated their camp craft skills and team work by putting up their tents, cooking their evening meals and breakfasts on

Trangias, and taking part in different team building activities.

The qualifying expedition took place on July 4 and 5 in the Brecon Beacons. Organisers say they very lucky with the weather for their practice expedition but not so the following weekend.

However, despite the conditions the boys showed excellent resilience and determination; so much so that the assessor commented on several occasions how impressed she was with their motivation and high spirits.

The boys should be extremely proud of what they have achieved, especially during the two expeditions.

They have been a credit to the school and DofE leaders, Mr Gruffudd Roberts, Miss Victoria Rowe and Miss Natasha Sharman, would like to thank them for everything that they put into the programme.

A big thank you also goes to Mr James Davies, Mr Dale Gamble and Mr Mark Hutton for their help and support.

We look forward to continuing the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Barry Comprehensive School this year with a new group of Year 10 students.