We are incredibly proud to share that two of our pupils recently attended a prestigious celebration at Buckingham Palace in recognition of achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The event hosted by the Duke of Edinburgh celebrated young people from across the country who have demonstrated outstanding resilience, commitment and personal growth through the Duke of Edinburgh programme. Achieving the Gold Award is a remarkable accomplishment, requiring participants to complete volunteering, physical, skills, residential and expedition sections over an extended period of time.
As part of their volunteering section, both boys dedicated their time to supporting Welshpool and Llanfair light Railway, where they worked alongside volunteers helping with the upkeep and running of the railway. This experience gave them the opportunity to develop practical skills, responsibility, teamwork and confidence, while also contributing positively to the local community and preserving an important part of local heritage.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all of the volunteers and staff at Llanfair Railway for welcoming and supporting the boys throughout their volunteering experience. Their encouragement, patience and guidance played a significant role in helping the boys successfully complete this part of their award.
For children in care, achievements such as the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are particularly significant. Nationally, children in care remain underrepresented in enrichment opportunities and educational outcomes, making accomplishments like this especially meaningful. These young people have shown exceptional determination, resilience and maturity throughout their journey.
The Duke of Edinburgh Award provides invaluable life experiences, helping young people to build confidence, resilience, independence and teamwork skills, while encouraging aspiration and ambition for the future.
Headteacher Sioned Davies said:
“We are immensely proud of both boys for achieving their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and representing our community at Buckingham Palace. Their commitment, resilience and willingness to step outside of their comfort zones throughout the award has been exceptional. The volunteering work completed at Llanfair Railway was particularly valuable, giving them the opportunity to contribute to their community while developing important life skills and confidence. We are extremely grateful to the volunteers and staff there for the support and encouragement they provided. These achievements demonstrate what young people can accomplish when given opportunities, belief and support I would also like to thank dedicated staff team, DofE leaders, carers and everyone involved in supporting the boys throughout their DofE journey.”
