Some of the most powerful learning happens through first-hand experience, and recently, a group of senior students and teachers embarked on a journey to explore some of Europe’s most significant historic sites across London, the Bay of Naples and Rome, as part of a bespoke European Cultural Tour.
The tour offered students the chance to be immersed in different cultures, histories and environments, and deepened their understanding of the world beyond our classrooms – whether they were watching Much Ado About Nothing in The Globe Theatre or Matilda on the West End, wandering the sprawling ruins of Pompeii, or spending an afternoon in the sand at Gladiator School.
The students were accompanied by a team of teachers who shared their enthusiasm for learning and discovery, including our Head of Teaching & Learning, Mr Damon Cooper.
In reflecting on the tour, Mr Cooper noted that it had immersed students in the stories of the past and present, the rich tapestry of European culture, and the human experiences of its people.
“There is something powerful about standing with students confronted by beauty and wonder. Whether it was the magnificence of an ancient fresco, the living joy of a performance at The Globe or on the West End, the tragedy and drama of Pompeii, Herculaneum and Vesuvius, or the simple authenticity of making pizza in the backyard kitchen of a family home in Sant’Agata sui Due Golfi, the tour opened their understanding of a world defined by history and shaped by humanity,” Mr Cooper said.
To quote Mark Twain, “One must travel, to learn”, and this cultural tour brought this education to life by putting it into our students’ hands and laying it beneath their feet.
Beyond the stunning landmarks and immersive experiences, it also provided them with a unique chance to learn through real-life observation and have their burning historical questions answered by experts in the field.
It is our hope that the impact of this experience will endure long after their suitcases are unpacked, and that the tour will have ignited within them a deep love of travel, learning and cultural discovery.
