Whitland pupils meet Duke of Edinburgh


Award-winning former Ysgol Dyffryn Taf pupils have been presented to the Duke of Edinburgh at St James’s Palace.
The 10 youngsters, now all in their first year at university, have recently achieved their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.
Headteacher Robert Newsome, former pupils Jack Murphy, Nicola Donnelly, Matilda Mitchell, Hannah Hill, Sally Jackson, Harry Kind, Bethan Eynon, and triplets Rachel, Eleri and Tom Allan, and VIP guests Carmarthenshire County Council executive board member for education and children’s services Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge and director of education Robert Sully went to St James’s Palace earlier for the award ceremony.
Mr Newsome said: “We have had 32 pupils at the school achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award this year. Ten went up to St James’s Palace on Tuesday and 22 will go at half term. We have another group of 30 pupils close to achieving the award and another 24 starting off.
“It is a unique occasion for the students and a justifiable reward for all their hard work and it was a very proud day for their parents.”
Cllr Gwynne Wooldridge said: “Over the last 10 years in particular Robert Newsome has produced something like 750 Duke of Edinburgh Award winners including about 110 gold medallists.
“Carmarthenshire is one of the most successful counties in Wales in terms of Duke of Edinburgh Awards. The Duke of Edinburgh was very impressed with what Carmarthenshire has achieved.”
Anyone aged between 14 and 24 can do a programme at one of the three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a bronze, silver or gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
There are five sections at gold: volunteering, physical, skill, expedition, and residential.

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