Students on their silver expedition in the Derbyshire White Peak

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is all about providing young people with an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development. The College supported nine students to achieve their Silver awards during 2005/6 and 23 gained their Bronze awards during the same period. The students had to demonstrate the ability to pursue a range of skills and interests over an extended period of time. In addition they had to plan and execute a series of camping, hiking and expeditions. In 2006 the Silver award candidates took off to the Derbyshire Peak district. College staff members, Dave Clarke, Nigel Barrett and Vicky Hilling instruct and supervise the students and this year James Heppell and Caroline Russon have both undertaken BELA (leadership) training so they too can join in the fun!

White water rafting in the French Alps.

The residentials took place in July 2006. Students had the choice of six trips. The destinations were London, Paris, Florence, Barcelona, Athens and the French Alps. The purpose of the residentials is to enable students to experience the adventure of travelling and to explore places that they may not otherwise visit.

This year the students enjoyed activities as diverse as 'hot-dogging' down an Alpine mountain river on an inflatable to visiting Delphi in Greece, the cradle of civilisation and the first World Heritage site.