The D of E cohort at Flint High School receiving their awards comprised of 26 Bronze Award students, now in Year 11, and four Silver Award students from the sixth form.

To achieve their D of E awards, students must complete 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 expedition (hiking and camping).

Silver D of E Award students - Megan Pearson, Nia Lovatt, Kallie Craig and Joe Williams.

After months and months of weekly D of E meetings after school to work towards their targets, and learning practical skills from navigation and planning expedition hikes to emergency procedures and first aid to help them prepare for their final expedition, the students' hard work paid off and it was a proud moment for them and the school when they were awarded with their certificates and badges.

Phill Dowle, head of Year 8, is the D of E manager at the school and has been responsible for encouraging more students to participate in the programme over the years.

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After presenting the students with their Bronze or Silver Award certificates and badges, Mr Dowle said: "It is brilliant to see how far these students have come since they started on their D of E journey, and it is wonderful to see them achieve their awards, which are so well deserved.

"The D of E programme offers so many benefits to young people; it gives them opportunities to make friends, develop new skills, increase their resilience, encourage them to believe in their abilities, and provides great experience of working as a team.

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"All the students have shown commitment, dedication, and maturity and they have supported each other along the way. I am so proud of each and every one of them and congratulate them on their achievements."

For the Bronze Award students, they are planning to start their Silver Award next year. A new group of students are now working towards their Bronze Award, with an expedition planned in the Llangollen area at the end of April.

The Silver Award group have recently been joined by another two students and are already underway with their Gold Award, currently preparing for a practice expedition after Easter followed by their qualifying expedition around Eryri in July.