A GROUP of students at Ysgol Treffynnon are working hard towards their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award and are preparing for their final expedition next month.

Two year groups comprising of 14 Year Nine students and 23 Year Ten students are enrolled for the award which involves them completing four areas of activity; volunteering (giving up time to help others in the local community), skills (improving a skill or learning a new one), physical (improving fitness levels) and a final expedition (a camp out).

The school has run the Duke of Edinburgh programme for several years but this is the first year that year 9 and year 10 have been run together and it is hoped that all year 9 students will go on to work towards their Silver Award.

Michelle Reid and Bethan Price lead the Duke of Edinburgh Award at the school, supported by Matthew Warwick and Gary Williams, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Development Officer/ Outdoor Education Worker, Flintshire Integrated Youth Provision.

Mrs Reid said: “All the students have shown great enthusiasm since they started working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Award and they have fully engaged with all the challenges presented.  They have attended training sessions after school, and we’ve been on several practice expeditions in the Clwydian Range which went really well.

“The programme is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop new skills and grow in confidence.  We’re now looking forward to the final expedition and to the students successfully completing their Bronze Award.”

Training sessions take place every week where the students learn a host of skills including campcraft, where they develop their knowledge of food, cooking and equipment safety; navigation and route planning; working as a team and observational skills.

All the knowledge and experience they have gained will prepare them for their final expedition. 

Starting at Llanferres and finishing at Cilcain, the expedition will be completed over two days, staying at Fron Farm Park caravan park near Hendre.  Working as a team, the students will use their navigation and route planning skills, as well as camp craft and cooking skills.

Harri Dickinson, Year Ten, said: “It was very exciting preparing and actually completing the practice expedition.  I enjoyed taking part in my physical section and look forward to completing the Bronze Award.”

George Jones, Year Nine, added: “I have really enjoyed my practice expedition and am looking forward to my final expedition.  I have really enjoyed my physical and volunteering sections because it has improved my confidence.  Also, next year I plan to do my silver award at Ysgol Treffynnon and my gold award in the near future.”

A county presentation will take place in November with students from schools across Flintshire in attendance.