Prince William sends message to Laleham Gap School in Ramsgate as Thanet school becomes first in east Kent to gain Prince William Awards
12:20, 22 July 2019
updated: 12:21, 22 July 2019
Pupils from Thanet have become the first in east Kent to gain the Prince William Award.
Youngsters from Laleham Gap School in Ramsgate received their certificates and watched a video from the future king congratulating them for their hard work.
All 24 children from Years 5 and 6 who started the course at the start of the school year successfully passed.
They were given two awards as part of the qualification - the Prince William Explorer Award and Sports Leadership Certificate - at a special assembly last week.
The school was also presented with a trophy to celebrate it becoming the first in east Kent to succesfully run the award.
The course was led by Simon Roser, who visited the school every Thursday afternoon, aiming children to challenge themselves, grow their self-confidence, discipline and working with others.
Mr Roser said: "It was amazing that all the children from different classes worked together to overcome everything and pass the award. It was great to see by the end the children had become a tight unit with a real team ethic.
"All of them were looking out for each other. I was so proud of all of them and all they have learnt."
Natalie Hewitt-Zarb, the school's primary resources manager, said children had learnt so much from the award and had enjoyed the team building activities, tug of war, drag the bag and overcoming challenges.
The Prince William Award has three stages for youngsters aged up to six, eight and 12-years-old.
Most of the course leaders are former Armed Forces personnel who use their own experiences in building teamwork, resilience and self-discipline to teach and inspire the children.
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