The geography department are just back from Italy. On Sunday the 18th of June, 32 new 4th and 5th year students and 3 members of staff took a 2:30 flight to Naples airport to learn of volcanoes and costal features and enjoy the sun. Students visited the active super volcano Solfatara, with its boiling mud pools and gas vents. They climbed to and toured the summit of volcano Mt Vesuvius, where they learned of its activity and the areas disaster plan. They visited the ancient city of Pompeii and viewed the bodies preserved under the ash and viewed Mt Vesuvius from a much further distance. They took a hydrofoil boat to Capri, toured the island, its town, took in the coastal views of Naples and finished the trip off with a funicular rail trip to the top of the island. The students benefitted from this trip as they were visiting Volcanoes, enjoying costal features and the impacts of coastal towns on tourism and overcrowding, all things featured in the course they will study in the following year. It is also a part of the John Muir award. The trips leader Mrs Kennedy said: “The trip was an amazing experience for pupils and staff. The trip allowed pupils to visit an active volcano and active tectonic area and see the effects volcanoes have on people. Pupils also gained an excellent afternoon of coastal features and Italian culture.” The students returned home on Wednesday the 21st of June and thanks to Miss Kelly, Mr Bradly and especially Mrs Kennedy, the trip leader, for accompanying the students and making this incredible trip possible.
