DofE and Ten Tors Challenge Award Evening
Last night the Gryphon School held its first DofE and Ten Tors Challenge Award evening since the pandemic. The evening started with a presentation from Pet and Linda Thornton about the work of the John Thornton Young Achievers’ Foundation which has supported students at the school. The charity was set up in memory of Captain John Thornton Royal Marines who sadly died in Afghanistan. The charity help young people to dream big and achieve their goals.
Over 60 students from year 10, received their Bronze DofE Award and over 30 students from year 11 received their Silver DofE Award. Students from year 13 received school certificates in recognition of their Gold Award as the real certificates will be presented at Buckingham Palace next summer. Liv Bowditch, a student at the Gryphon School, give a short presentation about the volunteering she did by writing letters to cancer patients for the charity ‘Letters to You’ before receiving the Gryphon School’s Silver Award from Peter Thornton. Jacob Hughes took the Bronze Award for leading by example presented by Patricia Walker, Dorset County DofE Manager and Elizabeth the Gold Award for completing her Gold Expeditions despite everything life had thrown at her, was presented by Mrs Edwards, Headteacher of the Gryphon School.
The 5 teams which took part in the Ten Tors Challenge 2022, in May, received their certificates from Lt Col Tony Clark OBE, Advisor to Director Ten Tors. The Ten Tors Challenge Award was presented to Edward Smith for leading a team in the 60th Ten Tors Challenge using equipment worn in the first Ten Tors Challenges in the 1960s.
The school also presented its first Sports Leaders, Assistant Expedition Leaders Level 2 Awards to 5 students after a year of training. Students doing this Award helped and supported students on their own Bronze and Silver expeditions throughout the year. The school plans to deliver the Lowland Walk Leaders Level 3 Award in 2023. The final presentation of the evening was 21 Outdoor First Aid Certificates to leaders who had recently completed the 2 day course to allow them to safely train teams out walking in the Southwest, on Dartmoor and across the Welsh Mountains used by the school. The school has a dedicated team of volunteers who are training to lead expeditions including many Moorland and Mountain Leaders. These volunteers are the backbone of the school DofE programme.
Well done to everyone who received their Award last night. Photos of the evening will be uploaded to our Facebook page.
