The ‘true grit’ of pupils and staff in the boarding community at Monmouth School for Girls has inspired a memorable national success.

Their ‘determination’ to raise money during the coronavirus pandemic for the mental health charity, Mind Monmouthshire, has been hailed in the School Stories Awards.

Indeed, the boarding community’s brilliant Everest Challenge has been declared the Best Boarding Story in the competition.

“We received almost 1,000 entries, so it’s a huge achievement that you were selected by our judges,” said Mr Ben Weston-Conway from Interactive Schools.

“One of the comments from Kerry Williams (Head of Marketing at Handcross Park School) read: “This story really caught our attention as it shows true grit and determination from the boarding students and staff and how they came together to raise money for such an important charity despite the ongoing pandemic enforcing so many restrictions. Fantastic work!”’

The School Stories Awards celebrate social media storytelling in schools across the world and are produced by Interactive Schools, a leading school website agency.

It is a double celebration for Haberdashers’ Monmouth Schools because Monmouth School for Boys has won the Best Entrepreneurship Story for devices made by pupil, Ed, to help save lives in the UK’s fight against Covid-19.

Back in March, the adventurous boarders and staff ‘scaled Everest’ to raise £570 for Mind Monmouthshire.

The girls and boarding staff based at Monmouth School for Girls smashed the Everest Challenge, achieving a total distance much greater than the height of the famous mountain.

Girls aged from 10 years old to Sixth Form completed loops inside Twiston Davies and Augusta House – two, three-storey boarding house buildings.

Each girl and member of staff climbed the stairwell, walked across to the far end of the buildings, down the end staircase and then looped back around.

“The girls completed an outstanding 1,659 laps of Twiston Davies and Augusta House,” said organiser, Mrs Joanne Pascoe, Assistant Houseparent of School House at Monmouth School for Girls.

“They climbed a combined total of 9124.5 metres – a brilliant 275.64 metres greater than the height of Everest, which stands at 8,848.86.”

She added: “We are so proud of all the girls who took part in the Everest Challenge. Their legs are going to ache for a few days.”