FEATURE: SCHOOL TRIPS


languages, giving them the opportunity to practise their language skills with native speakers; research has shown that foreign language skills enhance students empathy and understanding of different perspectives. Spending time abroad also plays a huge role in developing students’ self-confidence by equipping them with the skillset to feel confident in new environments. Even through the pandemic, the College provided opportunities for virtual language exchanges with our partner school in Japan to ensure that our students continued to benefit from intercultural connectivity.


We have also found that international travel provides a wide range of educational benefits to STEM education. Previously, we have arranged an environmental studies exploration to Iceland, enabling students to experience non-native ecological systems first-hand, as well as a science trip to CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. Our belief in the transformative power of international travel culminated in our application for funding from The Turing Scheme, the UK’s global programme to provide funding to facilitate international education and training experiences abroad, and we were lucky to receive over £1million of funding through the scheme.


Learning outside of the classroom helps students to engage with their subject material and delivers positive benefits for students’ health and wellbeing. Following the pandemic, scheduling a robust programme of international trips has never been more important to combat the isolation experienced during the past 18 months and ensure that our students feel connected to their international neighbours. Thanks to funding from The Turing Scheme,


students in Years 7 to 13 will be able to experience the benefits of international travel in destinations as diverse as India, Iceland and Peru by August 2022.


During each visit, students will spend at least three days in a partner school, collaborating and exchanging ideas with their peers before experiencing some of the destination’s highlights through a programme of cultural enrichment activities to ensure they benefit from experiencing a new culture and learn from the different perspectives of the local people. Year 7 students will visit India and support fundraising efforts to provide equipment for SKSN in Jodhpur, a residential school for the physically challenged. The service learning element ensures that students apply their academic knowledge, personal and social skills in real-life situations. They will also join their host students in school lessons, before touring Delhi to experience the rich, cultural heritage of the country. Year 12 and 13 students will visit Lima and Arequipa in Peru, where they will volunteer with a local charity as teaching aides for local students to proactively immerse themselves in the international community before developing their knowledge of the local language and culture through a series of outdoor pursuits activities.


In October last year, we were proud to receive The British Council’s International School Award in recognition of the College’s commitment to embedding international- mindedness into our learning


and teaching. It is hugely exciting that we will be able to give our students the chance to live these real adventures through exploring new cultures and countries, learning and growing alongside their peers. These experiences are of crucial importance in helping our students develop an international mindset. The personal growth that will be gained throughout the programme of international travel will complement our college teaching, further providing students with the opportunity to become lifelong learners and global citizens.


This initiative will not only help our cohort recover from the isolation-based damage this pandemic has caused, but it will continue to reinforce our core value of international- mindedness, ensuring that our students are equipped with the skillset and outlook that they need to navigate their futures and our increasingly global society.


January 2022


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