Dozens of Hartlepool students celebrate Duke of Edinburgh award success

Students at High Tunstall have been celebrating their success in achieving the coveted Duke of Edinburgh Award.

Forty-six pupils in Year 10 at High Tunstall College of Science in Hartlepool received their Bronze awards and six students in Year 11 received their silver after a year-long commitment to developing themselves by volunteering, developing their physical fitness, learning new skills and completing two expeditions.

Students packed bags to raise money, volunteered to marshal races, completed a first aid qualification and spent days travelling across the North Yorkshire Moors and Dales.

The awarding of the certificates also marks the end of an era for the two staff who set up the Duke of Edinburgh’s award at High Tunstall.

Mr Michael Fenwick and Mr Michael Stones are both leaving the college this Easter to start new posts in different schools. Collectively, they have overseen more than 40 expedition groups at High Tunstall and have helped about 200 students to achieve the award.

Mr Fenwick said: “It’s been a privilege to lead, develop and be a part of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at High Tunstall. Our students are a real credit to the college and the award has helped showcase the resilience, strength of character and commitment of our students to achieve in every aspect of their lives.”

Mr Stones added: “The Duke of Edinburgh Award in High Tunstall has grown dramatically over the past four years I have been involved. I have enjoyed developing a successful programme with Mr Fenwick which students find both challenging and rewarding.

“The number of students we have enrolling in the award has increased every year and so has the dedicated team of staff who give a lot of their own time and energy to make the High Tunstall Duke of Edinburgh Award so good.

“All of our students have been proud of their achievements despite having to overcome their own personal challenges and we are immensely proud of them all.”