Miss Claire Whitney – DofE Manager

Expedition Success

As we approach the end of the academic year, now is the time to reflect on the incredible journey our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students have undertaken. It has been a remarkable year of growth, resilience, and achievement.

The students have all experienced many highs and lows throughout their respective expeditions. From navigating unfamiliar terrain to managing camp life, each of them has pushed themselves beyond what they believed was possible. This determination was particularly evident with our Gold group during last week’s heatwave. Facing challenging miles in intense heat, their perseverance and team spirit were truly inspiring to witness. They should all be immensely proud of what they have achieved.

I wish them all the very best and hope they successfully go on to complete their awards by finishing their remaining Volunteering, Skills, and Physical sections.

Gold Celebration Ceremony

A group of current and former St Bede’s students headed down to London at the end of May to attend the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award celebration in the gardens of Buckingham Palace.

This year marked the charity’s 70th anniversary, and our students enjoyed a festival-style atmosphere featuring military bands, giant deckchairs, inspirational guest speakers, and afternoon tea in the Palace gardens.

In his address, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, highlighted the continued importance of the DofE programme for young people today before walking through the grounds to meet attendees. Our very own Head Girl, Shriya, was one of the lucky few to speak with him!

Not all of our Gold Award holders were able to attend the London event due to clashes with their A-level exams, but they will celebrate their achievements at Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh next month.

I am incredibly proud of their achievements and it has been an absolute privilege to be part of their journey.