Students at Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Penrith, have enjoyed a whole week off timetable in the school’s annual Activities Week.
With years 11 and 13 occupied with their exams, QEGS combined a range of traditional summer term trips and events for the rest of the school into a single week.
Year 7 students enjoyed a trip to France. With opportunities to practice their French, they visited a goats’ cheese farm, Bayeux town and harbour, and sites related to the D-Day landings and Battle of Normandy. A visit to the Bayeux tapestry helped inspire students for the school’s forthcoming medieval day, and a visit to Eurodisney provided some light relief.
Adventure in the Lake District was in store for year 8 pupils. The whole year group spent three days in a range of outdoor pursuits near Derwentwater, including watersports, climbing and ghyll scrambling. They also had two days of school-based activities including team games, rocket building and a walk to Brougham castle.
Berlin and London were the destinations for students in year 9. German language students practised their German vocabulary whilst visiting cultural and historical sites in Berlin, including Berlin zoo, remains of the Berlin wall and the famous rotating restaurant in the Berlin television tower.
The rest of the year group visited London, where they attended performances of School of Rock and, at Shakespeare’s Globe theatre, The Merry Wives of Windsor. They also visited Tate Modern and an exhibition of Japanese manga art at the British Museum.
Dozens of local – and not so local – employers gave year 10 students a taste of the world of work for week-long placements. Students are encouraged to organise their own placement that is of interest to them.
Whilst most remained in Cumbria, some students worked further afield in Scotland, London, and even one in Denmark! QEGS Assistant Headteacher, Rebecca Chapman, said: “Work experience aims to help students narrow down the career or job sector they want to go into. Some of our year 10s have come back with very clear ideas of what they want to do, and – just as importantly – sometimes what they don’t want to do. This can guide them in choosing their A-levels next year and to start thinking about what comes next after school. We are very grateful to all the employers who help make this possible.”
A range of educational visits were on offer to year 12 students. Those taking Earth Science spent a week exploring the geology and ecology of volcanic islands in Tenerife. Science students visited the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, participating in talks and lab sessions at some of the university’s world-renowned facilities, including the Plasma Fusion Science Centre, the Broad Institute for genome sequencing and the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research. Rome was the destination for the Art and RE departments, where students visited art galleries, churches and historical sites including the Capitoline museums, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Palazzo Barberini.
Students of other A-level subjects attended a variety of work experience placements and university open days, and undertook voluntary work.
QEGS Deputy Headteacher, Rob Dawson, who coordinated and oversaw Activities Week, said: “Getting out of the classroom is such an enriching experience, which helps bring learning to life. This year’s Activities Week has been very successful and students have really enjoyed themselves. We couldn’t offer such a wide variety of trips and activities without the support and tireless hard work of our incredible staff.”
