Duke of Edinburgh Gold & Silver Expeditions

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DofE Gold & Silver Expeditions – An Unforgettable Adventure

As the school year drew to a close, our Year 11 and 12 students took on the final major challenge of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award: the Silver and Gold expeditions. With a combined total of over 100 participants between the two levels, these expeditions were a true test of endurance, teamwork and determination – and our students more than rose to the occasion.

Gold Expedition – Snowdonia Challenge

This year’s Gold expedition doubled as a practice for our Year 11s and the qualifying expedition for Year 12 students – a demanding yet rewarding five-day adventure in the rugged beauty of Snowdonia.

Fifty students set off, and an impressive 45 completed the full journey, covering tough terrain with daily hikes lasting up to 8 hours. Routes took students to heights of 890 metres with punishing inclines, challenging even the fittest participants. Blisters, aching limbs and early starts were par for the course – but spirits remained high.

Each evening, groups plotted their next day’s route, using compasses and Sharpies to navigate the mountains ahead. Despite the midges (which were, at times, relentless!), students embraced the camping experience. Campfire games – including Codenames, MöLKKY, and even frying-pan rounders – brought much-needed laughter and camaraderie after long days of hiking.

The Gold groups showed tremendous grit, good humour, and mutual support – all qualities that lie at the heart of the DofE Award.

Silver Expedition – Fun in the Chiltern Sun

Meanwhile, our 68 Silver participants completed their three-day qualifying expedition in the Chiltern Hills this week, experiencing a very different challenge – high temperatures and blazing sun, with some days reaching 30°C.

Students trekked for 7 hours a day across open countryside, with every single participant successfully completing the expedition. Evenings were full of laughter and energy, despite the exertions of the day – from sleeping bag races down hills to a spontaneous and now-legendary water fight.

The spark? Dec’s water balloon catapult. What followed was a full-scale showdown: instructors, campsite owner Colin, and Dec himself versus the students. The hillside echoed with squeals of delight as students ran free, phones forgotten, creating memories that will last long after the sunburn fades.

As the sun set on the final evening, casting golden light over the Chiltern landscape, there was a strong sense that something special had happened. Not just an expedition completed, but a shared experience of resilience, friendship, and joy.

A True Reflection of Presdales Spirit

Across both expeditions, our students were exceptional. They tackled extreme terrain, unpredictable weather, and physical exhaustion – and still managed to lift one another up, stay positive, and show outstanding teamwork and resilience.

These expeditions were not just a test of endurance; they were a celebration of character. We are incredibly proud of every student who took part. Whether reaching the summit in Snowdonia or cooling off with water balloons in the Chilterns, they demonstrated what it truly means to be part of the Presdales DofE community.

Well done to you all.

 

 

News from Science

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Year 8 students visit MBDA, Stevenage

MBDA What is it?-

MBDA is a well-known company that operates globally. It develops and sells a variety of missile systems and related technologies. These products are used by different military forces and government agencies. MBDA has built a reputation for designing advanced missile systems that meet the needs of wars. Its mission includes providing reliable missile technology to countries around the world. The company often supports nations that have been under-equipped or lack advanced defense tools. During conflicts or wars, MBDA supplies missiles and technology to help these countries defend themselves and stabilize the region. The company’s goal is to ensure even smaller or less developed nations have access to effective defense systems as well as protecting our own country. Each missile was described as very expensive, some even selling for millions.

What did we do over there-

We got on a small minibus that took ten of us straight to the MBDA building. The ride was very fun, and we did a mini karaoke. When we pulled up, we headed inside and signed in at the reception desk. After signing in, we were handed a lanyard. Wearing it made us feel important, like we belonged there, which was a big boost of confidence for everyone.

Our first stop was a spacious hall where a series of talks were waiting. Some of the speakers shared stories about how they first got involved with MBDA. They explained how they started in very different careers but eventually came here. We listened carefully, and after, we asked questions about the jobs, and sometimes got a bit off track with their favourite books, etc. It was inspiring to hear real people share their experiences and see how a career in engineering or tech could come true.

After the talks, we were taken on a special tour to see some of their really cool rooms. These spaces looked like giant gaming setups, with multiple screens and all kinds of confusing buttons. It was fascinating to see the high-tech equipment and learn how these rooms help create advanced technology.

As a fun part of the visit, they handed out small fidgets to everyone. These little toys kept our hands busy and gave us something to play with during lunch. They also set up a quiz, testing our knowledge about multiple things. We had to answer questions like “Who made the internet?” or “How tall is the empire state building?”.

Later, we got hands-on with a teamwork challenge. Using colourful plastic pieces, we worked together to build a bridge. Our goal was to create something strong enough to hold 7 cans of fizzy drinks. We knew that triangles were a stable source. Some of us discovered that wider bases or using more pieces in certain areas helped improve strength. It was a great way to learn about engineering ideas like balance, weight distribution, and material strength, all while working as a team. We managed to hold all cans, yet found that we were cheated unfairly since we didn’t win, yet we should have. You can succeed, yet still fail.

This whole experience gave us a clear look at what goes on inside MBDA. From the talks and tours to building challenges and fun quizzes, every part showed us how important creativity and teamwork are in this field. It was more than just a visit; it was a chance to see real careers in action and understand the kind of work that makes new technology possible.

By Hannah

Bronze DofE 2024–2025: A Brilliant Qualifying Expedition!

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Last Thursday and Friday marked the final stage in the Bronze DofE journey for 127 of our fantastic Year 9 students, who completed their Qualifying Expedition with energy, enthusiasm, and a brilliant sense of adventure.

The students set off from Welwyn North Station Car Park, heading out in small teams to navigate their way between checkpoints using only the route plans they’d created and their own map and compass skills. Unlike their Practice Expedition in March, where instructors walked alongside them, this expedition was remotely supervised, meaning students navigated independently and checked in at designated points. The level of confidence and capability they displayed was exceptional.

Their March practice had prepared them well – despite the freezing conditions and even snow on their tents at Danesmead Scout Campsite earlier in the year, they showed resilience and adaptability. That same determination was on full display last week. This time around, the weather was kinder, and the atmosphere even more uplifting.

On Thursday evening, after a long day of walking, groups set up camp and enjoyed a sociable night around the fire. Highlights included a very lively “pub without a pub” quiz, plenty of toasted marshmallows, and the heart-warming sight of students playing frisbee with Koa the golden retriever (who was especially grateful to those who shared their sausages!).

Throughout the two days, it was a pleasure to watch students working together with maturity, kindness, and a genuine sense of camaraderie. Their teamwork, navigational skills, and positive attitudes were consistently impressive. We’re proud of the way they supported one another and made the most of every challenge thrown their way.

Most of the students have now also completed their Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections, with many final assessor reports already submitted. This means that for the majority, their full Bronze Award is nearly ready to be approved by the County team — a brilliant achievement!

Looking ahead, we’re excited to launch the Silver DofE programme later this term. We really hope many of our Bronze participants will take the next step. The Silver expeditions take place in the beautiful Chiltern Hills, where the routes are more challenging, the views are stunning, and the campsites are among our absolute favourites. And because they’ve already completed Bronze, students are eligible for a reduced Silver timescale of just 6 months, making it very manageable alongside Year 10 studies.

A huge well done to every single student who took part — your determination, teamwork, and humour made this experience a joy for all involved. We can’t wait to see where your DofE journey takes you next.

Miss Haywood, DofE Coordinator

News from French

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News from German

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German Partnership Exchange : 5th – 9th May 2025

It was an early start on Monday morning to get to Heathrow for our flight to Düsseldorf at 7.10am! The journey to Germany marked the beginning of this year’s German Exchange with further developments in our established partnership with the ‘Gymnasium am Neandertal’ in Erkrath near Düsseldorf. This reciprocal exchange visit is a little different to a traditional Exchange. Our students are matched with a German student of a similar age and with some things in common to help with communication. We stay together in a local youth hostel and travel each day to school using public transport to meet with partners, attend lessons and get involved in joint projects together. Our students were immersed in German culture and customs and were able to use the language learnt in class to find their way. Students explored both Düsseldorf and the town of Erkrath in small groups using a Rallye designed by the German students. We attended lessons, experienced breaks and changes of lessons in school and this year, we were also able to spend an afternoon at the houses of the exchange partners. We visited the well-known Neandertal Museum, funded by our Partner school who are very proud of their Neandertal heritage. Parents organised a BBQ for us next to the lake where the school owns a piece of land and rowing boats. We were invited to try out rowing and for most of us this was the first time, we had sat in a rowing boat. We explored the differences between the school systems and the lives of young people in our two countries. Every day was packed with activities and negotiating many trains, trams, underground trains and buses but we still found time to shop, go to the theme Park @Phantasialand, pop up to the cathedral in Cologne. The photos of our trip will give you a flavour of all we experienced in the beautiful  Neandertal Valley.

We had an additional unplanned experience too. Our British Airways flight home was delayed and finally cancelled meaning we had to stay and extra night in a very nice hotel!  Our students took it all in their stride and were wonderful ambassadors for Presdales. We are looking forward to welcoming their German partners to our school in two weeks time( 1st- 5th June 2025), where they will take part in a similar programme.

Duke of Edinburgh – Silver Award Practice Expedition

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During the first week back after Easter, 68 of our Year 10 students went on their practice expedition for their Silver DofE Award. At the start the weather was wet and cold so their waterproofs were immediately put to the test but the students maintained bright smiles and greeted their instructors with enthusiasm and excitement which was lovely to see. They set out on their day one routes and easily managed the more complex navigation which is required at Silver level, finishing at the campsite in good time to enjoy cooking by the fire and some fun time.

Day two began bright and early but this time in sunshine! Participants completed their routes in good time and were able to enjoy cooking their supper in some warm evening sun followed by a quiz, singing songs and dancing and toasting marshmallows on a huge bonfire.

Year 10s teamwork and ‘can-do’ attitude was brilliant and their approach towards all of the challenges that Silver brings was outstanding. They showed resilience and made a huge effort to remain positive and motivated throughout.

Anyone who has participated in the DofE Programme knows it’s an invaluable experience that teaches young people essential life skills for their futures and we are so pleased so many students at Presdales take part.

Year 7 PGL Netball Trip

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We had a brilliant sunny weekend at PGL with the Year 7 netballers! The girls have played some excellent netball and supported each other throughout. The girls came in the following positions;

Team 1 – Runners up in Year 7/8 tournament

Team 2 – 3rd place in Year 7/8 tournament

Team 3 – 5th place in Year 7 tournament

Team 4 – Runners up in Year 7 tournament

Team 5 – 3rd place in Year 7 tournament

The girls selected players player from each team and the coaches selected most valuable player for each team over the weekend.

Team 1 – PP – Sophia W & MVP – Scarlet C

Team 2 – PP – Freya E & MVP – Lois D

Team 3 – PP – Jasmine B & MVP – Holly P

Team 4 – PP – Evie R & MVP – Lyla C

Team 5 – PP – Jasmine S & MVP – Daisy F

 

Well done everyone!

The girls have been doing lots of activities when not playing netball, including, zip wire, giant swing, axe throwing, archery and abseiling and climbing!

News from Russian

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Russian Trip to Tallinn

The week before half term 15 Year 8 and 9 students visited the capital of Estonia, Tallinn where approximately 40% of the population are native Russians and there are lots of Russian speakers.

Students enjoyed a whirlwind tour of what life was like in Estonia during the Soviet Union, discovered what the KGB might be interested in them for and where they would have ended up if they didn’t go along with party communist party lines. They also took a step back into Imperial Russia and visited Peter the Great’s house and palace, enjoying the art collection there.

Students particularly enjoyed the Russian lessons and visit to the school where they met young Russian speakers and exchanged ideas about their lives and hobbies. Tallinn has a beautiful Russian language theatre which offered the students the opportunity to enjoy a very novel staging of Figaro, which was visually very engaging even if they spoke very quickly.

The students thought the old town of Tallinn was very beautiful and made their own Russian dumplings at the Russian restaurant in the old town centre. They also ordered their own Russian pies in the pie shop. We were very lucky to enjoy Tallinn in the snow and the students represented Presdales very well in spite of extreme tiredness from such a packed programme.

 

Year 7 Russian

Slightly belatedly for the Russians, the Year 7 Russian class marked Maslenitsa (pancake week) with pancake ordering, sushki bracelet making and singing. The students embraced the challenge of singing quite fast and made a rather pleasant sound by the end of it! Well done Year 7.

Years 8 and 9 German Christmas Market Trip

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Düsseldorf 2024

‘What a trip! Four days! We did it all, travelling through 4 countries, Christmas markets in Köln and Düsseldorf, der Kölner Dom, das Schokoladenmuseum, swimming, Phantasialand, der Fernsehturm, shopping and we even managed to visit our partner school in Erkrath. Our students were able to meet the partners they had been writing to during the year, in person.

Parents and students in our partner school, das Gymnasium an Neandertal (Gymneander) organised a Christmas party with German seasonal food. We shared English traditions (mince pies, crackers and a Lucky Dip) and were entertained by a Year 9 class with a song in German and in English. Our students also attended 2 lessons to get a taste of what it is like to learn in a German School.

St Nikolaus, who normally comes on the night of 5th- 6th December, came 5 days early to put some chocolate in the shoes we left outside the door of our hotel rooms.

The German department are very proud of our 48 students from year 8, 9 and 10 who took it all in their stride. They were fantastic ambassadors for Presdales and our country. I even heard them talking German to each other. Well done to them all!

We hope the pictures and the comments from students give you a flavour of this exciting trip.

This was the best trip EVER!

I liked being in a German school. They have huge corridors and it was very chilled.

My favourite part was going to the German school. It seemed really strange at first, but they try to get everyone involved in the lessons. I found the chalk boards in all the classrooms a bit strange. All the students have iPads. They don’t wear uniform and start and finish earlier.

The school was chill with no seating plans, no uniform and no homework. Phones were allowed in the class I was in.

It was great to see the school. It was interesting to get to know another culture.

I enjoyed going to the cathedral so much, that we nearly got left behind, because we were taking so many pictures.

My favourite part was going Phantasialand because I went on loads of rides. I also enjoyed the Christmas markets as I got to buy nice things and try different foods.

I enjoyed the journey as I could spend many hours watching animations without someone telling me to stop.

I had the best time at the Chocolate museum with lots of free tasting and I got presents for my family.

One of my favourite things we did was to go to Phantasialand, but I also enjoyed swimming, the Christmas markets and especially meeting our partners. I loved all of these since they were fun and we met new people. I also enjoyed seeing Germany. I just wished; we had more time!

I loved the TV Tower. It was so high. I also ticked something off my bucket list ‘eat a pretzel in Germany’.

Phantasialand was the best. F.L.Y is a must when you visit.

I enjoyed the Christmas Markets because there was lots of present options. I also enjoyed the slides in the water park. They were really fun!

I have never been to a proper Christmas market like the German ones before, so it was magical and beautiful to see and experience. It was an amazing opportunity for gifts and souvenirs. I am so grateful to have gone on this trip and I hope to go again!

It was quite fun for me because I had never been to Germany before, and I have not been to another country where I know at least some of the language.

The TV Tower was great fun. We leant on the glass and looked down. The view was amazing and very pretty.

I was so scared going up the TV Tower but I face d my fear! I leant on the glass and got great pictures.

Year 11 History Trip to Berlin: Friday 18th October to Monday 21st October 2024

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Friday 18th October

Early on Friday the group met, bleary-eyed, at Stansted Airport at 5am ready to commence the trip. As soon as we landed we were transferred to the hotel to quickly turn around again to go into the centre of Berlin to meet with our guides for a brief walking tour. Some of the sites included: Courtyard of German Resistance Museum, the site of the Von Stauffenberg Bomb Plot, Rosa Luxemburg Memorial and the Victory Column.

Some of our route was cordoned off due to the unexpected visit of President Joe Biden of the USA. However, the weather was kind and the students were getting used to the geography and transport system of Berlin. Eventually we made it back to the hotel for dinner and well-earned rest after a very early start.

Saturday 19th October

After a fulfilling breakfast and a good night’s rest the group departed the hotel for a full day in the centre of Berlin with Miss Workman as the tour guide. Visits included the following:

Unguided visit to Topography of Terror.

External View of Reichstag Dome.

Soviet War Memorial, Brandenburg Gate, Holocaust Memorial, Site of Hitlers Bunker, External View of Checkpoint Charlie, Bebelplatz.

Unguided visit to German History Museum.

After having walked some 10 miles or so, we trudged back to the hotel for a rest before going to the Cinema in the evening. We went to see Beetlejuice 2.

Sunday 20th October

Today was a somber day and one of reflection in terms of the level of persecution and murder committed by the Nazis. Ploetzensee Memorial – our first visit was to a now youth offenders’ prison but the site of the execution of any people who opposed the Nazi regime and in particular those who were implicated in the attempted assassination of Hitler in July 1944. Afterwards we then ventured to the site of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, situated in the former British sector during the Cold War, and we had a very informative tour led by volunteers who work at the stadium. We then had lunch at Remus Restaurant. This would have been in the former Soviet zone and some of the decor resembled what it might have looked like during the GDR. After lunch we were then met by our guides who gave us a tour of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp. The guides were very informative and interesting and were keen to tell us that the Concentration camp was mostly for political prisoners during the Nazi regime and not a death camp, although there was a site of a furnace used to burn some Jews who died or were killed there. To finish off the day we ended at Platform 17 or the Deportation Memorial Track – the site of where trains left Berlin destined for concentration camps and death camps in the East.

We returned to the hotel for a rest, dinner and then we went bowling.

Monday 21st October

After checking out of the hotel we ventured to Bernauer Strasse, a memorial to the Berlin Wall and its construction in August 1961. From there we then travelled across Berlin to the site of a Stasi Prison – in operation in the GDR and part of our Cold War study. The tour was chilling and demonstrated how prisoners were treated by East German secret police. To end our tour we had lunch and free time for shopping before heading back to the airport to catch our flight home.

In sum total we walked a mere 37 miles and we saw so many historical sites that have brought our study of the past, and Germany in particular, to life. It was certainly a memorable tour.

Thank you to the History department for organising it.

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Tel: 01920 462210
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Headteacher:
Mr Warren