Students from a special school overcame their disabilities to sail a ship for five days as they work to achieve a Silver Duke of Edinburgh award.

The five pupils from Sherwood Park School all have severe learning disabilities, and this was the first time students from the Beddington School had attempted an expedition of this magnitude.

Setting sail from Portsmouth on a catamaran on June 8 alongside two members of staff, the five learned how to steer, open and close the sails, the knots needed to secure roping and map reading as they travelled west along the coast as far as Lymington, Hampshire.

Each evening Jason, 19, Joe 19, Doreen 18, Jessica 15, and Thilakshan, 15 prepared and cooked their dinner and slept on the boat. The expedition was run by Tall Ships Adventures.

Headteacher Ann Nanasi said: “The students exceeded all expectations on the voyage and met the many challenges with enthusiasm and determination.

”Last year students completed their Bronze Award, they went on a two day walking expedition which was an extremely challenging venture.

”The Duke of Edinburgh Award has enabled students of Sherwood Park School to work more independently, use their own initiative, put their new skills into practice in different ways and develop their overall fitness. Next year we hope to continue with the Gold Award.”

Leading up to the expedition the students had completed six months of volunteering at school doing urban conservation in the garden area.

They also completed six months physical activity such as dance clubs and basketball club and three months of skills which included science and choir.

The students kept a blog which can be read at tallships.org/blog/xc150608-sherwood-cat