Gold and Silver DofE amid the fabulous autumn colours of the Peak District

This October saw 62 students participating in their Silver and Gold practice expeditions for DofE amid the stunning scenery of the Peak District.

Forty-two Year 10s set off from Eyam, through rain, sun and frost, to finish at Bakewell. Our Silver groups progressed cheerfully, despite the challenging terrain and weather, and now all know a lot more about the rigors of DofE than when they started!

Twenty of our Year 12 students took on the challenging climbs and varied weather conditions to all successfully complete their expeditions. Along their routes from Edale to Castleton (a relatively short three miles, unless you are on DofE and definitely not using the most direct footpaths..) the nights were cold and frosty but provided an excellent opportunity for star gazing, with some students seeing shooting stars for the first time.

We would like to thank all the staff and volunteers who assisted, and for the Orionid meteor shower for making it a memorable exped.

It all adds up

A huge 2704 student hours were dedicated to learning new skills between April 2022 and March 2023 - an achievement which has recently been celebrated with a certificate from the Duke of Edinburgh's Award. Well done to everyone involved, whether it's behind the scenes or as a student leading the way, for the support given and for the determination in achieving this impressive total!

We are proud of the students who join the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme with the aims of building their independence, learning new skills, growing their leadership qualities and making a positive contribution to their community. They are developing all the attributes of "Youth Without Limits", to use the DofE's own words, and we delight in seeing them grow into confident, resilient and formidable individuals.

Find out more about DofE - an extension opportunity at St Mary's.

Click here for a gallery of photographs.