Foundation Learning Complete Duke of Edinburgh Award

Foundation Learning students recently ventured into the Trough of Bowland to complete their 3-day Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition. 21 students in total completed the Physical, Voluntary and Skills components within our curriculum time, with only their Qualifying Expedition left to complete their award.

From our camp base at Waddecar Scout Activity Centre, our first day comprised of a 4 mile walk through the valley and onto the Bronze age, Bleasdale Circle. Students then had to use the skills they had acquired through weekly expedition preparation lessons such as setting up tents, camp cooking, cleaning, collecting wood and campfire setup. Our second day involved a walk around Beacon Fell before breaking into two different ability groups. One group completed a range of Forest School based activities as well as abseiling and the other ‘hit the hills’ on a 10-mile circular walk over the fells of Parlick and Fair Snape and through the valley. A number of students, and staff, took the option of a cool off in the stream back at the campsite after the big day of adventure. The final day consisted of activities such as archery, raft building and canoeing before the camp awards ceremony and heading back to college.

In line with the Duke of Edinburgh core values and ethos, all students were challenged throughout the expedition in one or more ways. For some it was the strenuous walking and activity, others the camp cooking, setting up tents, being away from home and self-supported requirements in accordance of award guidelines. We are extremely proud of the teamwork, camaraderie and positivity they showed throughout the experience.

In a first for Foundation Learning, we have four students who are currently undertaking the very demanding components of Gold award over their two-year program with us. They are currently on track to become the first Lancashire special needs students in quite some time to receive this prestigious honour and then travel to London to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award certificate from royalty.