As G29 get ready to head off on their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition later this week, we’d like to share some important information about their return on Saturday 5th July.

The coach will leave Acomb at 3:00pm, and we expect students to arrive back at school by approximately 3:45pm.

Once back, students will need time to unpack their bags and air out their tents and sleeping bags to prevent damp and mildew.

We will also need to account for all school equipment, including rucksacks, trangias and tents.

This process is likely to take until around 4:30pm-5:00pm, we will update via the school website as the process nears completion.

A full “de-gunge” will take place on Monday morning when students return to school.

Thank you for your continued support in helping G29 prepare for their expedition!

G29: Final Expedition Bag Packing – Thursday 3rd July

As we approach the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition on Friday 4th July, G29 students will be doing a final pack of their expedition bags on Thursday 3rd July during the school day.

Many students already have their bags fully packed and ready to go – well done! However, Thursday’s session is a valuable opportunity to:

• Top up on any small last-minute items they may have forgotten

• Check the weight of their bags and decide if anything can be removed to lighten the load

• Refine their kit based on comfort and practicality

Please ensure that any outstanding kit is brought into school on Thursday.

Students who plan to take items out of their bags should bring a carrier bag or small bag with them so they can take these items home easily.

Thank you for your continued support in helping G29 prepare for their expedition. We’re looking forward to seeing them put their planning and teamwork into action on Friday!

As G29 prepare for their Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition on 4th–5th July, it’s essential that pupils are well-fuelled and equipped with suitable food to keep them energised and healthy throughout the two-day experience. Here’s everything you need to know to help your child prepare, including detailed advice on what to bring—and what to avoid.

---

General Food Guidelines

• NUT-FREE ONLY: Due to serious allergies, no nuts or nut products are allowed at any point during the expedition.

• High energy, long shelf life: Choose foods that are energy-dense and will last without refrigeration.

• Easy to carry: Food should be lightweight, well-packed, and not prone to squashing or spoiling.

• Low waste: Pupils must carry all their rubbish until they return, so avoid excessive packaging.

---

Examples of Suitable Food Items

Day 1

Before School – Breakfast at Home

Pupils should eat a substantial breakfast before arriving to school. Good options include:

• Porridge with fruit

• Eggs and toast

• Beans on toast

• A bagel with cream cheese or jam

• A smoothie and a cereal bar

Packed Lunch + Snacks (for during the walk)

Suitable options include:

• Tortilla wrap or roll with filling (avoid mayo or perishable sauces)

• Pasta or couscous salad in a reusable container

• Crackers and wax-wrapped cheeses like Babybel

• Dried meats like beef jerky

• Dried fruit, raisins, seeds, cereal bars (nut-free), flapjack

• Rice cakes

• Fresh fruit that travels well (apple, satsuma)

• Water (at least 1.5L), plus optional isotonic drink

Evening Meal – Cooked on a Trangia Stove

Pupils will cook their own hot meal in pairs/groups using a Trangia stove.

Meals must be quick, simple, and safe to cook with minimal washing up.

Great options:

• Wayfarer Camping Meals

• Instant noodles or pasta pots (add boiling water)

• Pre-cooked pasta with a pouch of tomato or stir-in sauce

• Boil-in-the-bag rice or couscous with tinned meat (e.g. hot dogs or tuna)

• Tinned chilli or curry (can heat in Trangia)

---

Day 2

Remember: Pupils will not have access to fridges, and any perishable food will have been unrefrigerated for over a day.

Breakfast (no cooking)

• Cereal bars, flapjacks, or brioche rolls

• Breakfast biscuits or oat bars

• Dried fruit (e.g. apricots, raisins)

• Fresh fruit that travels well (apple, satsuma)

Lunch and Snacks

• Tortilla wraps with shelf-stable fillings (cheese, hummus sachets, jam)

• Pitta bread with tinned tuna or veggie spread

• Crackers with cheese or veggie pate

• Snacks from Day 1 list (e.g. fruit, cereal bars)

---

Items to Avoid

The following food items are not suitable for the expedition:

• Anything containing nuts or nut products

• Yoghurts or dairy items that require refrigeration

• Sandwiches made the day before

• Mayonnaise-based fillings

• Raw meat or frozen meals

• Chocolate or items that melt easily in hot weather

• Foods with long cook times or that require large amounts of water (e.g. dried pasta or rice)

• Anything that requires an oven or microwave

• Leftovers from the previous evening

• Any food that needs to be kept cold to remain safe

---

Final Tips

• Use resealable bags or lightweight Tupperware.

• Pack foods in meals/snack “sets” so they’re easy to find.

• Keep it simple—DofE is not the time for gourmet meals!

If you have any concerns about dietary requirements or providing food items for your child, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

If your child is entitled to free school meals and you would like some support in providing suitable food for the expedition, please contact your child’s Crew leader.

We’re looking forward to seeing G29 rise to the challenge—well-fed and ready to go!

Dear G29 Parents,

The countdown to the Qualifying Expedition is on and it is coming round quick! Thank you to all parents who have completed and returned the medical consent forms in the last couple of weeks. We could not provide your children with this rewarding experience without your support.

In our previous post about Duke of Edinburgh we had requested that all kit for the qualifying expedition be ready by 13th June. As such, we hope that everyone is ready to go! As mentioned in previous correspondence, we have some kit in school that we can lend out if needed, but to be able to manage this, we need to know what students are missing.

To help us do this, we would like all G29 students to bring their full kit to school on Friday 20th June so that we can check for any issues before we go. Some of it may be in rucksacks already, this is fine – we will check those too!

The kit list can be found here – it has been updated to include everything (like toothbrushes and underwear, as some of the basics were previously left off).

Whilst it is important to be prepared, please don’t overpack! The students will have to carry their rucksacks on their back all day, so efficiency is important – avoid heavy items where possible. They should have what they need, but nothing unnecessary – the most important items are walking boots and waterproofs.

We will post an update next week about bringing appropriate food on the Expedition, but in the meantime if you have any questions about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, please contact your child’s Crew Leader or Ms Marshall.

On Monday 12th May, G29 students will be developing invaluable skills to prepare for their Duke of Edinburgh Practice Expedition on Friday 16th May, and ultimately the final expedition in July.

As outlined in the previous blog post, students must bring their full DofE kit into school on Monday so they can pack their bags ready for the practice expedition on Friday.

Please note: students do not need to bring a rucksack, as this will be provided. A shopping bag or similar is fine for transporting kit on Monday.

On Tuesday 13th June (G29 class 1) and Wednesday 14th June (G29 class 2 ) students will undertake a day of Fieldwork at Killhope Lead Mine museum collecting scientific data to support Durham Wildlife Trust water vole project . This will help students to study the distribution of a important, yet declining species and see the impact of habitat quality has on their population.

We are leaving school by coach at 9.30am. So a normal school start time applies.

We expect to return to school between 3.15pm and 3.30pm (please check the website for updates during the day)

Students will need a packed lunch for the day. If your child receives a free school meal, we will provide a packed lunch.

The visit will be outdoors, so students need layers to keep warm. The forecast is dry but a waterproof outdoor coat is needed too. U/V levels are high so a sun hat and sunscreen are need too.

Students will be walking across fields and some uneven ground so comfortable shoes with a decent grip are recommended. Students must wear long trousers for this field work.

Students need to bring their regular kit for the day in a bag as there are exhibits in the site where students can take photographs and make notes using iPads for example.