MORE young people will be embarking on an adventure after Turton School become a Duke of Edinburgh accredited centre.

This means it can directly deliver the award for its students, meaning the scheme can be expanded.

Clive Searle, head of geography at the school, and now Duke of Edinburgh centre manager, said: "We have become the second school in Bolton to become a licensed centre to deliver the scheme.

"On April 1 we had 110 more young people doing the award."

The Duke of Edinburgh Award is open to those aged 14 to 24 and, at Turton, pupils will have the chance to embark on the bronze and silver award.

Not only does completing the award give an advantage on university application forms, but also helps students develop as a person — participants go on a residential in which they must complete challenges, and they also volunteer in the community.

Mr Searle said: "One of our students went to an interview at Cambridge and the first question she was asked was where she had been on her expedition as part of the silver award.

"They spent 25 minutes talking about it."

Mr Searle said: "One of our pupils started volunteering for the award in year 10 — and she is still volunteering."