Highlight of the Week

The Inspirational Tori James

On Friday 15th November, we celebrated the incredible achievements of those who participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at all levels during the previous academic year.

The presentation evening started with a pizza party in the Refectory and featured fun activities such as guessing the amount of pasta in a packet and Trangia-building challenges. Our guest speaker, Tori James, delivered a motivational talk on stepping out of comfort zones, setting goals, and preparing for future expeditions. The first (and only) Welsh woman to climb Mount Everest, Tori has completed other remarkable feats such as the Polar Challenge and setting the record for the longest open sea kayak crossing in UK waters as part of Beeline Britain’s 200km journey. She is also currently acting as an ambassador for the DofE Award in Wales, is president of Girlguiding Cymru, and has inspired many through her work as an author and motivational speaker.

This year’s DofE programme has been a tremendous success, with nearly all participants passing their expeditions, and working hard towards their volunteering, physical, and skill sections to earn full awards. A total of 131 pupils received certificates this year - a fantastic achievement!

A big thank you to staff and parents for their support, and special recognition to pupils Jem T, Ayesha P, Matilda F, Chloe M, Lillian J, Cassius G, and Jack F for sharing their experiences and helping the evening run so smoothly.