The best way to experience what life is like at Brighton College is to join us at an Open Morning, where you will have the chance to talk to pupils and teachers about what makes our school such a special place.
This year's Activities Week has been another memorable one for our Lower Sixth pupils who have jetted off around Europe to finish the year in style.
Here's a comprehensive round-up of all the trips our pupils have been on over the past week!
Chamonix, France
We find ourselves with the A-level Geographers, bustling about in the tranquil commune of Chamonix. They have been studying the glaciated landscape there, visiting the major glaciers of the Mt Blanc massif including the Mer De Glace, where you can actually go inside the ‘ice grotto’ and experience what it’s like to be inside a glacier!
An amazing experience, with some extraordinary views to match!
Madrid, Spain
Arriving in Madrid with the Lower Sixth is always special, more so when the weather is slightly warmer than usual.
They visited the mammoth engineering work of the emblematic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which is enjoyable even if you are not a football fan. Later, pupils led the search to find out what is relevant about the area of Malasaña if you are studying Spanish.
They were tasked with recording themselves asking members of the public their thoughts on the changes in the neighbourhood, including the pros and cons of gentrification.
Although there was a fair amount of walking involved, pupils were fantastic and enjoyed the city. Some of them are already thinking about spending a year in the Spanish capital!
Bologna, Italy
Business and design technology pupils, alongside their teachers Miss Allard and Mr Harvey, visited Bologna in beautiful Italy during Reading Week.
Here, the pupils were able to visit both the Ducati and Pagani production facilities. The antithesis of the two workplaces was notable to all and both were highly impressive!
There were many opportunities to sample the traditional cuisine, appreciate the impressive architecture, soak in the culture, and enjoy good company.
An excellent time in Italy!
Edinburgh, Scotland
History and politics pupils soaked up the culture of the beautiful Scottish capital, with the renowned Holyroodhouse Palace, Edinburgh Castle and The People’s Story Museum all on the agenda.
To round off the second day, they ventured into the dark Edinburgh night, on a midnight walking tour, including Greyfriars Kirkyard, under the guidance of a prize-winning and renowned local historian.
For the final day, we explored the Royal Mile, the most famous street in Edinburgh, where many of us opted to sample Scotland’s finest fudge!
Dublin, Ireland
English Literature pupils jetted off to Dublin for a few days for a memorable time in this Irish, literary capital.
Starting their exploration in Trinity College, they soon progressed to the Oscar Wilde memorial in Merrion Park, which was followed by more relaxation on the grass and a chance to get some reading done, the most popular texts being Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Grayand James Joyce’s Dubliners
On Tuesday morning, they set off by train to visit the six-day home of James Joyce in a Martello Tower in Sandycove – the windswept location of the opening of his novel Ulysses.
And at the famous Abbey Theatre, they all greatly enjoyed an outstanding performance of Elizabeth Kuti’s The Sugar Wife, which explored the morality of slavery and trade in 19th century Ireland.
A fascinating trip, they had just enough room in their bags to buy plenty more literature as a keepsake!
Boulogne-Billancourt, France
After a very early departure, our French, Art and Photography pupils started their trip to Northern France by visiting La Coupole, a WW2 German V1 launch station, to learn about the history of the area during the War.
This was followed by a leisurely walk through Boulogne-sur-Mer’s charming historic centre on the footsteps of Charles Dickens, who had a particular fondness for the resort.
Day 2 started in the baroque town of Arras, where they admired the stunning square from the top of the Belfry, followed by a visit to the Vimy Canadian WW1 Memorial site, as well as learning about life in the trenches.
They continued the day with a visit to the Louvre-Lens museum, admiring two fascination exhibitions featuring art, photography and sculptures and finishing this action packed day with an after-dinner walk on Wissant Beach.
And on the final day, they set off to the seaside resort of Le Touquet, where they enjoyed the summer atmosphere of the town and visited its lighthouse!
A moving yet tranquil time across the Channel.
Istanbul, Turkey
This year’s Religious Studies trip explored the culturally rich city of Istanbul. Woken each morning by the call to prayer and the rising sun, each day our pupils delved thousands of years into the past.
They were awe-struck by the grandeur of Byzantine architecture – from the dome of the Hagia Sophia to the columns of the Basilica Cistern. They took in the elegance of the Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque, the beauty of Islamic calligraphy and carpets, and even a mesmerising Sufi whirling performance!
Peak District, England
Lower Sixth chemists embarked on an exciting trip to the Peak District, which kicked off with a challenging yet rewarding climb up Ecton Hill, a site renowned for its rich geological features.
Following their exploration of Ecton Hill, they ventured into one of the most important mines in Britain: Ecton Mines. Here, pupils gained insight into the history of mining in the region, learning about the traditional method of using gun powder for copper extraction.
On their drive back to school, a quick stop at the University of Nottingham’s School of Chemistry was made, providing an inspiring glimpse into advanced scientific research and higher education!
