On the weekend of 17-19 March, the 19 Sixth Form students going on the Senior Expedition this summer completed an arduous four-day training course in extremely testing conditions in the Brecon Beacons. They had to practice their campcraft in gusting wind that nearly flattened their tents, and carry full kit over Gold DofE-type terrain and distances in pouring rain. In addition to campcraft, they learnt and developed budgeting, catering and cooking, first aid, leadership and teamwork skills that will be put to the test and developed further on their month-long summer expedition to Western China this summer, where they will trek at altitude, do project work with a Khampa Tibetan community, and visit some amazing sights, including the great Bhudda at Chengdu, the western end of the Great Wall, the Gobi Desert, and finally China’s panda-breeding centre. The resilience and good humour they displayed, made Miss van der Werff, Mrs McConalogue and Mr Taylor, who accompanied them, confident that they will cope with the challenges that are to come, and everyone is now wishing away the summer term, looking forward to their departure for China.