Menu
Back to News ListPreviousNext

Students complete Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Expedition

On Friday 9th June, 97 Year 10 students began their Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze expedition from Wendover Woods. They were fully equipped for 48 hours of self sufficiency without the use of mobile phones and other technology.

The students walked between 12km and 18km over a 6 hour period, eventually arriving at Braid Wood scout campsite, where they set up camp and had to cook a two course meal. On Saturday morning the students cooked breakfast and packed their rucksacks, which each weighed between 9kg and 16kg. The groups then returned to Wendover Woods, following a different route to the previous day.

Staff Duke of Edinburgh coordinators Mrs Kirby and Mr Taylor commended the students, reporting that the students coped well with hot weather conditions and carrying heavy packs.The entrants will complete the challenge by producing a presentation about their expedition, in a market place event which will be held in the 6th form centre on the 29th June at 7.30pm. Students and parents are invited to attend this presentation.

Well done to all the students involved on the completion of their Bronze Award.  Students can now chose to continue on to the Silver Award. ( Please click here for details of the Silver Award Scheme)

Many thanks to all the staff and parents who gave their time to help throughout the expedition by manning checkpoints, walking with groups to provide moral support, ensuring the safety of the students and making the whole event possible.

 

Gallery

Back to News ListPreviousNext

Categories

Category / All Articles

Archives

Also Featured

30th January

Teachers commended for transforming Design & Technology education

We were delighted to read that our Design and Technology teachers, Miss Yalley and Mr Hadley were featured in the Design and Technology publication.  The article discusses the transformation of the Design & Technology (D&T) department at St. Clement Danes School over the past five years. It discusses how Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley took ownership of the subject, implementing a new subject ethos based on trust, excellence, respect, and safety to foster student responsibility and independence. Key Initiatives & Changes Revamping Projects & Curriculum Introduced more challenging design projects at earlier years (Years 8 & 9). Shifted focus to design skills, problem-solving, and justifying choices over just practical outcomes. Prioritized quality over quantity in student projects. Notable projects: Year 7: Robot concepts Year 8: Articulated lamps Year 9: Branded dispensers & modular speakers Encouraging Inclusion & Diversity Created a girls-only club to boost female participation in GCSE Product Design. Sixth-form girls mentor younger students, building confidence and community. Design Ventura Competition Integrated mock coursework with the Design Ventura competition. Encouraged teamwork and prototyping to improve engagement. Use of AI & Technology Introduced cloud-based tools to make learning more accessible. Leveraged AI for idea development and communication. Professional Development & Industry Links Participating in the Teachers in Residence program to gain industry insights. Adopted industry models like the Double Diamond Design Process and Scrum-based project sprints to enhance student learning. Established workshops with industry professionals to inspire students, especially girls, to pursue design careers. Key Takeaways for Educators Adapt curriculum to student needs and school culture. Pilot new initiatives as clubs first to gauge student interest. Encourage student feedback to refine teaching methods. Be open to change and continuously evolve teaching strategies. The article ultimately encourages educators to embrace creativity, experimentation, and student collaboration in D&T education. We are very proud of our teachers for their continued hard work and dedication for each of their subject areas. Congratulations to Mr Hadley and Miss Yalley for their inspiring article and the incredible work they’ve done to transform Design & Technology at St. Clement Danes! Their dedication to fostering creativity, inclusion, and industry connections is truly commendable, and their impact on students will undoubtedly be long-lasting.