World Challenge at Durham School

The World Challenge programme run at Durham School is specifically designed to meet the needs of pupils who wish to test and extend their existing abilities, as well as those who want to discover talents as yet unseen. Working on a two-year cycle, we take a group of pupils to a part of the developing world so that they can experience different cultures and ways of life.

Travelling abroad is not merely about looking, though. What we find amazing about taking pupils to the developing world for a month at a time is that they find the challenges they face help them to develop confidence and responsibility. The have to cook for themselves, plan journeys, stay healthy and manage large budgets in regions that are, to an extent, alien to them. By organising, managing and leading a group of peers, pupils often realise that their capabilities are far greater that they had previously thought.

Recent trips to Mongolia, Kenya, Uganda, India and Argentina have been enormously successful and this year pupils will be travelling to Tanzania, Borneo and Ladakh, India.  The pupils’ fundraising ideas have shown great ingenuity, ranging from a highly-successful fashion show to discos, bag-packing and cake sales. Ultimately, the success and joy of any of these trips is derived, mainly, from the satisfaction of knowing that it has been paid for through planning and hard work.

To learn more about World Challenge Expeditions, visit their website at www.world-challenge.co.uk. You will also find information about all the World Challenge 2013 expeditions: Ecuador and Galapagos, Ethiopia and India (Himalaya and Rajasthan). For further information about Durham School expeditions, please contact the School Office.

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National Schools' Biathlon semi-final
Sunday, 05 February 2012

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recent news

Families bag unwanted items in aid of World Challenge Equador
Bags2school Day Thursday 19 January

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Testimonials

"Our son took to flexible boarding like a duck to water. It’s lovely to see him at the weekend knowing he is gaining in independence whilst having fun as a boarder. I feel I can speak to the staff at any time. He has gained 40 ‘big brothers’."
Mrs Alison Griffin