The event, hosted in recognition of Gold Award holders from across the country, included a presentation from the Duke of Edinburgh, HRH Prince Edward.

Earning a Gold Award is an exceptional accomplishment, requiring sustained commitment across five demanding sections: Voluntary Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, an Adventurous Journey, and a Gold Residential Project. Each section must be completed over a minimum of 12 months, with participants demonstrating regular effort, progress and personal development throughout.

For their Adventurous Journey, the sisters planned and completed a challenging four‑day, three‑night expedition through the South Downs, navigating independently and working as a team to meet the rigorous requirements of the award. They undertook their Gold Residential at the Portland Outdoor Centre in Dorset, immersing themselves in new experiences and building confidence and resilience.

Alongside this, both pupils chose dance for their Physical Recreation section and dedicated their time to tutoring younger pupils as part of their Voluntary Service. All of this was achieved while balancing the significant demands of their A‑Level studies, demonstrating impressive determination and time‑management.

Catherine Cockar, Director of Outdoor Learning, praised their achievement, saying: “Vaibhavi and Shivani have shown remarkable perseverance, leadership and independence throughout their DofE journey. Completing the Gold Award is a true test of character, and they should be incredibly proud of everything they have accomplished.”

We are immensely proud of both pupils for their hard work, commitment and enthusiasm. Congratulations to Vaibhavi and Shivani on this well‑deserved and inspiring achievement.