Two teams of six from Wycliffe College are heading off to Devon at the end of next month… but don’t for one minute think they are going on holiday.

Quite the opposite, in fact, because they will be going to Dartmoor for the weekend to tackle the gruelling Ten Tors, an annual challenge taken on by teenagers in the South West, a challenge which tests them both mentally and physically.

The two teams from Wycliffe, who are made up of year 10s, are taking on the Bronze Tor Challenge, which is over 35 miles, and will see them trekking across some pretty tough terrain in an uncertain climate.

The challenge begins at 7am on Saturday 29^th April – that’s pretty inhospitable in itself! – and will finish on the Sunday afternoon.

Wycliffe are just one of many sending teams to the event and Helene Woodham, a school staff instructor at Wycliffe in Stonehouse, said: “They’ll be self-sufficient for two days. They’ll have to cook for themselves, feed themselves, learn how to use a map and compass.”

And walk the 35 miles with all their kit on their back.

“It’s not classed as a competition but there is a certain kudos to being among the first to finish,” added Woodham.

The Wycliffe teams, who are raising money for the Down’s Syndrome Association, will leave for Devon on the Friday and while the following 48 hours are not going to be easy, Woodham is confident that they will be enriching.

She has taken a good number of pupils on the Ten Tors challenge since joining the school in 2016 and she said: “I’m hoping that by the time they finish they’ll have learned about friendship and commitment.

“A lot of the benefits come after the event, such as resilience and organisational ability.”