Northern Education Trust The Blyth Academy students demonstrate that they are ‘Youths Without Limits’ after completing the Duke of Edinburgh Award

Aimed specifically at 14-24-year olds, the Duke of Edinburgh Award is a life changing experience which sets challenges for young people to complete, allows them to develop new skills, help their community and environment and complete an independent outdoor expedition.

On the 29th and 30th June 2023, 38 Northern Education Trust The Blyth Academy students set out on their Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition after working incredibly hard all year completing their physical, volunteering and skills sections. The academy saw some amazing successes with students working across the local community, working for charities, the elderly, people with disabilities and helping in enrichment clubs in school. Students have also taken part in swimming, cooking, learning new languages and playing a variety of sports and instruments.

Northern Education Trust prides itself on helping students achieve their full potential. The Duke of Edinburgh Award is the world’s leading youth award and as such allows our academies to significantly increase the life chances of the students who undertake this challenge.

Over the course of the two days in June, the student’s behaviour and attitude was outstanding – they were a credit to the school and to themselves. Furthermore, their resilience when things got tough was amazing to see: they carried on when the walking got difficult and stepped outside their comfort zone constantly. The students planned their routes, cooked their meals, put up their own tents and made their own fun in the evenings, away from social media! It was wonderful to see all students, regardless of friendship groups, including each other in activities and helping each other along.

Mr Greenshields, Teacher of History, Staff Governor and Duke of Edinburgh Award Leader said “I am immensely proud of all of the students and the staff who helped out. Without the students buy in and the staff giving up their time, this sort of thing does not happen. The students now have a world-renowned award that no one can ever take away and which also puts them ahead of other young people when they go to college or into the world of work. The students have truly followed the morals of the DofE and proved they are ‘Youth without limits’”

Northern Education Trust The Blyth Academy would like to say a huge well done to all the students and looks forward to seeing another cohort of students achieve the award next year.