Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award 2021-2023

The Wayland Academy Duke of Edinburgh Team is incredibly honoured to present 25 students with their Silver Awards this evening. They were a wonderful group of students who showed true resilience, commitment and determination to succeed.

Over the past 2 years, the students have collectively completed over 350 hours developing their skills in art, cooking, acting, photography, music, coaching and much more. Over 1100 hours volunteering their own time to support others in the school and in our community. Over 500 hours building on their own physical fitness. A physical fitness that was certainly put to the test during their practice and assessment expeditions.

In June, the students spent 4 days developing their navigation and teamwork skills around the beautiful Rutland Water for their Silver Practice Expedition. Fortunately, the weather was kind to us; perfect walking weather! Their Assessment took place in September in the stunning Malvern Hills. The students were in high spirits and certainly embraced the extreme challenge of 60 km of walking and just under 800 metres of climbing, all with heavy rucksacks on their backs. They never gave up!

The completion of the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a truly challenging task, however the students completed theirs with a huge amount of positivity and the most amazing team work we have ever seen. By supporting one another through the pain, blisters, tears and a combination of 763 metre uphill-climbs all the students shone brightly in their success.

We hope that the many laughs shared and the fantastic memories made last a life-time and that the skills they have developed through the Duke of Edinburgh Award will support them along their chosen journey.

We wish them the very best in their future endeavours.

The DofE Team.