Ark Alexandra Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award students brave Dartmoor’s toughest conditions

Former Ark Alexandra Academy students have demonstrated resilience, teamwork and outstanding navigation skills during their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award qualifying expedition on Dartmoor.

The all-girls group, who signed up for the award while in Year 11 and are now attending college, were accompanied by Mr Burchell and Miss Clark for the challenging expedition last week. Having successfully completed their practice expedition over the summer, they arrived well prepared for the demands ahead.

However, the weather soon put their preparation and determination to the test. The expedition began with strong winds, followed by persistent rain, before conditions deteriorated further into very strong winds and heavy rain. On the final morning, the students also experienced their first frost of the season.

Despite the challenging conditions, the group remained focused and worked exceptionally well together throughout. They demonstrated excellent timekeeping, road safety awareness, campcraft and personal organisation, successfully preparing meals in difficult weather and erecting their tents efficiently.

Their route planning and navigation were particularly impressive. Careful preparation enabled them to remain consistently on schedule and reach every checkpoint accurately, without deviating from their planned routes.

The expedition was a fantastic achievement for the group, showcasing the independence, perseverance and practical skills developed through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.

The students must now complete the remaining sections of their Gold Award before receiving their Gold certificates. They will then have the prestigious opportunity to attend a Gold Award Presentation at Buckingham Palace.