At the start of the summer, Oundle staff succeeded in assessing a number of the School’s Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award expeditions with zero emissions.
Three teaching staff, who are all qualified Duke of Edinburgh Assessors, used a mix of zero emission transport to assess the expeditions of over 150 Bronze candidates and six Gold sailors. Travelling by foot, bike, electric car (largely recharged from green energy sources) and even an electric boat, they covered hundreds of miles, ensuring that the various pupil groups being assessed met the 20 conditions of the DofE scheme.
Mr Pitcher, who organises the School’s annual Climate Week, felt that the staff should set an example to pupils about an awareness of one’s carbon footprint.
As one of the assessors monitoring pupils’ progress, Mr Brighton ran much of the route that the pupils walked, but considered his job much easier than the pupils’, who carried heavy kit as well.
At any one time, from the Third Form to the Upper Sixth, almost half the School is involved in the scheme, making Oundle's award group one of the largest of any school in the country.