Representatives of Truro High School for Girls were invited to a once in a life time Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) presentation event at Buckingham Palace last week.

At the event DofE coordinator, Michelle Sharp, was presented with a special plaque from the charity by survival expert Ray Mears, acknowledging the school’s commitment to running the DofE and thanking it for giving young people the opportunity to transform their lives.

The Duke of Edinburgh and the Earl and Countess of Wessex, congratulated those that were present including young gold award achievers, organisations that deliver the DofE and special guests such as DofE Diamond Challengers, who have set themselves a personal challenge to raise money for the DofE charity in its anniversary year.

It was a particularly proud moment for Mrs Sharp who this spring swam and run 60 kilometres in as many days as part of the initiative.

Currently led by teachers Christine Goodright and Mrs Sharp, Truro High School has been involved with the DofE programme for over a decade. A huge number of the school’s pupils have achieved an award after volunteering in their community, learning a skill, getting fit, going on an expedition and, for gold, taking part in a week-long residential. With 82 per cent of the school’s current year nine enrolled for the bronze award, the programme’s popularity is clear.

Mrs Sharp said: “We are very honoured to have been invited to Buckingham Palace to say thank you for our work with the DofE during its diamond anniversary year. Our girls are encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones when undertaking their awards and the skills that they develop are invaluable, so for us to be involved is something very special. We are also proud to say that our head girl, Zahra Dalal, has just completed her gold award and is excitedly awaiting her invitation to the palace.”