St John’s Sixth Form in Bishop Auckland is proud to recognise the incredible achievements of twenty‑three students who completed their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award expedition in summer 2025.
The expedition was truly an experience of two halves. One group faced blistering 27‑degree heat in the Langdale Valley in August, while the other battled days of relentless rain and 50mph winds across Borrowdale and the Ullswater Valley. Sunshine made an appearance only at the very end of their journey.
Despite these extreme weather conditions, every student successfully completed the demanding four‑day expedition, which included wild camping in the Langdale Valley—an unforgettable first‑time experience for many. All groups navigated with confidence, demonstrated outstanding resilience, and proved what exceptional teams they had become.
Prior to their qualifying expedition, the group completed their practice expedition in the remote Cheviot Hills. Here they developed essential skills including navigation, campcraft, cooking, water crossing techniques, and emergency first aid. Their route even allowed them to stand with one boot in Scotland and one in England as they followed the line of the border.
As the students reach the final stages of their DofE journey and refocus on their academic studies, the school looks forward to celebrating their achievements at Buckingham Palace this summer. This remarkable team of 23 students fully deserve the accolade they have earned.
To all Gold participants: St John’s recognises how incredible you were—not only for your determination, spirit, and resilience when times were tough, but also for your teamwork, empathy, environmental awareness, and respect for the accommodation and landscapes you encountered. Your attitudes made the expedition a pleasure to lead.
The school applauds your accomplishments across eight challenging days and looks forward to seeing your photographs from Edinburgh Castle and Buckingham Palace this summer. You are a credit to yourselves, your families, and to St John’s School.
A huge well done for your excellent expeditions, your conscientious approach to every section of your Award, and the positive impression you have left on every residential experience. As you leave Sixth Form this year, we hope you carry memories from this journey that will last a lifetime.