In December, Mr Read, Mr Harrington and Miss Mayhew took 20 students from years 10, 11 and 12 to Berlin for a 3 day residential trip. The trip first ran last year, and was such a great success that we were able to run it again this academic year. Some students enjoyed it so much last time that they came again, despite being in the 6th Form now! We left very early on Saturday 14th, and travelled by coach and plane to Berlin Schönefeld airport. From there on, we got to know the city well via the underground system, and on foot. We stayed in a lovely, new hotel right in the city centre, and returned in the very early hours of Tuesday 17th.
Whilst in Berlin, we travelled to various sites of interest, and students used the language, experienced the culture, and tasted the (delicious!) food for the time we were there. Amongst other things, we visited the Berlin Wall, went up the Berlin TV Tower in Alexanderplatz, had a guided tour round the Reichstag (government building), saw the huge Soviet Statue in Treptower Park, and spent some time at the sombre Holocaust Memorial in the centre of the city. Finally, being December, there were Christmas markets everywhere, so we were really able to get into the seasonal spirit! Our students were a credit to the school, the town, and to the UK. They behaved excellently and were polite and courteous at all times. Not only that, but they were clearly interested and excited to be in Berlin and to have the chance to experience all the things on offer.
I would like to thank the other staff, and the students, for coming on the trip, and making it, again, a pleasure to be in charge of such a great group of people! We hope to run this trip again next year, so those of you who might be interested, start saving up!
Mr Read
