HISTORY-making children from a Rowley Regis school celebrated achieving their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award with a trip to Buckingham Palace.

The students from The Westminster School are the first people in the country with learning disabilities to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

The Westminster School is a special school at Rowley Learning Campus off Curral Road in Rowley Regis which caters for pupils with moderate learning difficulties and is rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

The students were invited to collect their award at Buckingham Palace, in the presence of HRH The Earl and Countess of Wessex and Prince Michael of Kent.

Students took part in a wide range of activities in order to achieve their Duke of Edinburgh Award including voluntary work at St Giles Church in Rowley Regis, personal fitness programmes at Portway Lifestyle Centre in Oldbury and a four-day camping expedition to Edale in the Peak District.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is an integral part of the school’s curriculum and undertaking the DofE award has enabled students to develop skills for life, boosting their employment prospects.

The head teacher at The Westminster School, Christine Hill, said “We are very proud of our students and their groundbreaking achievement in earning the DofE Gold Award.

“Parents of the students have said it’s not only changed their child’s life, but also their own. It encourages them all to get out and about at the weekend, visiting nature reserves and areas of the local community that they perhaps wouldn’t have otherwise visited.

“Their hard work and enthusiasm, and that of the staff working with them in achieving this award has been inspirational to the whole school community.”

Councillor Joyce Underhill, Sandwell Council cabinet member for best start in life said: “This is an amazing achievement, especially as these young people are the first in the country with learning disabilities to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

“Thank you to all who have helped these students with their award. The students really are an inspiration to all.”