Pupils set for polar expedition of a lifetime

It was all part of their tough final training session, before leaving for Eastern Greenland on April 2 for a 10-day, 100km expedition with The Polar Academy - a Bo’ness based youth charity.

In the Arctic, the pupils and headteacher Carol Ann Penrose will haul their own 45kg sled for up to 10 hours a day.

To prepare for the expedition the teenagers, (seven girls and three boys) all aged between 14-17, have been relentlessly training for eight months since being selected for team.

Nine additional pupils have also benefitted from the training as part of a back-up leadership team.

The teenagers have been put through their paces by expedition leader and founder of the charity Craig Mathieson, a veteran of several expeditions to the polar regions.

He said: “Greenland is no guided school-trip and it will test their resolve, fitness, focus and team working skills to the limit.”

The team sets off on the 16-day adventure on April 2.