111 students take on Duke of Edinburgh Bronze

111 Year 10 students from the Academy successfully completed the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze expedition, marking a record-breaking moment for the school and a deeply transformative experience for all involved.

Over two days, students navigated from the Academy to and through Epping Forest, camping in small groups, cooking their own meals, and embracing the unpredictability of the great outdoors. The final group returned to school at around 4 p.m. on Friday, marking the triumphant end of the expedition.

The event was made possible thanks to the incredible dedication of school staff, both those who accompanied the students and those who stepped in to cover lessons back at school. Special appreciation goes to those staff who gave up their time and sleep to stay overnight, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of students throughout the journey. Gratitude was also expressed to Ms Ebejer for her tireless behind-the-scenes admin work, Ms Bell and Ms Potter for their pastoral support, and the exceptional PE department, whose continued commitment to the DofE programme has seen the school outpace every other in Hackney in terms of student participation.