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Trips

A dedicated page to school organised trips where you will find blog updates from teaching staff and/or students. You will be able to read all about what students have been up to on day trips, as well as day-to-day activities and view their site seeing experiences while abroad. 

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  • Year 11 visit The Globe Theatre to watch "Romeo & Juliet"

    Published 20/03/24

    Romeo and Juliet review

    Year 11 students were presented with the exciting opportunity to watch Romeo and Juliet performed at the Globe Theatre in London. The play, set in 2024, was a modern interpretation of Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy about two star-crossed lovers; including ominously dressed BMX bikers and leads romancing in joggers and puffer jackets. And lots of cell phones.

    The production subverted expectations of a Eurocentric Shakespearean tragedy by featuring a diverse cast: Romeo was portrayed by the talented Hayden Mampasi; Juliet by Felixe Forde; and most surprisingly, gender-bent Benvolio and Friar Lawrence, brilliantly portrayed by Saroja Lily-Ratnavel and Marieme Diouf, respectively. Other honourable mentions include the stellar performances by actors playing Lord Capulet who left some of us quaking with his tremendous portrayal of a temperamental Capulet; Mercutio, with his animated, nimble movement across the wooden stage; and the Nurse (whose character was interpreted quite literally as an NHS nurse!) Students and staff were literally immersed in the play as the cast interacted with students and staff, leaving us smiling, gasping, and even blushing, as they winked and joked with us.

    Music and set design were incredibly executed. Students were greeted with graffiti of words associated with Romeo and Juliet, such as ‘civil,’ ‘villain,’ ‘love’ and ‘hate,’ giving us an indication of the play’s underlying tone and aesthetic. The musicians that worked behind the scenes controlled the ambiance with their crashing cymbals and drums calling for celebration or tense anticipation. The dances and sequences were perfectly co-ordinated, and the audience particularly enjoyed Juliet’s eclectic hallucination of her dreaded wedding day.

    The structure of the Globe Theatre and its features that replicate the original establishment allowed students to experience the play as ‘groundlings’: we stood for the entire duration of the 90-minute play; which, albeit quite tedious sometimes, allowed us to gain authentic insight into the lives of a contemporary Elizabethan audience and allowed us to put ourselves in their shoes.

    Overall, I would say that the experience was incredible; it was a great privilege to see immense talent at work, blending boundaries of culture and time. The production helped us understand the themes of the play better by basing a 16th century text in a more contemporary context.

    But as Shakespeare so eloquently put it: “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

    Written by: A Mathew (Year 11 student)

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  • GCSE Dance trip

    Published 20/03/24

    On Friday 15 March, our GCSE Dance students travelled to London's ExCel arena to attend the 'Moveit! 2024' dance event.

    It was an excellent day, where students were able to see a range of professionals and industry experts dancing on the main stage, giving talks at the discovery stage, and taking part in professional-led dance masterclasses which the students thoroughly enjoyed. 

    It was also inspirational for the students to talk to and get information from prospective training providers and stage schools encouraging our students to aim high and plan their next steps in the dance industry. It was a thoroughly rewarding and enjoyable day for all and was an excellent showcase of all things dance.

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  • Year 11 Art trip - Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate Britain in London

    Published 12/03/24

    On Monday 12 February, the Visual Art department took our A level Fine Art and Photography students and a number of Design Technology students to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate Britain in London.

    The purpose of the visit was for students to gather contextual reference materials for either their Year 13 exam projects, or for Year 12 students' coursework projects. In their upcoming lessons, students will now begin to present their findings in their portfolios and develop ideas from this research.

    All of the students were impeccably behaved and had a fantastic time during the trip, with an added treat of stopping at the motorway services on the return journey home for some fast food proving very popular!

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  • Year 12 Photography students visit University of Northampton

    Published 17/01/24

    Our Year 12 Photography students recently enjoyed a visit to the University of Northampton. The purpose of the trip was to explore and utilise the university's state-of-the-art facilities, gain insights from industry professionals, and enhance their practical skills.

    One of the highlights of the day was the students' access to the university's dark room facilities. This unique opportunity allowed them to experiment with traditional film-based photography techniques, offering a hands-on experience that complements their classroom learning. The dark room session helped to deepen their understanding of the art, and also provided a chance for creative exploration.

    The students also got to hear from a special guest, an ex-CCS student who is currently in his second year at University, studying Photography. Sharing his story served as both inspiration and motivation for our aspiring photographers. His insights into navigating the transition from school to university, along with tips for building a career in Photography, left a lasting impression on the Year 12 students.

    Led by the BA Hons Photography course leader, the group later got stuck into a special masterclass, gaining further insight into studio photography techniques, lighting setups, and composition. They then had the chance to apply their theoretical knowledge in a practical setting, gaining confidence and proficiency in using professional equipment.

    The students thoroughly enjoyed their time at the University of Northampton and were able to produce impressive pieces of work during the day, including a collection of beautiful photographs they proudly took away with them.

    A huge thank you to the University of Northampton for hosting us and providing our Year 12 Photography students with a wonderful experience. The trip was a resounding success, providing a fantastic opportunity for our students to continue to develop their passion for the art of Photography and will undoubtedly leave a lasting impact.

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  • Year 7 Trip to The National Gallery and The National Portrait Gallery

    Published 29/11/23

    We had a great day on Wednesday 15 November 2023, visiting two world-famous galleries off London’s Trafalgar Square.

    Our Year 7 students, armed with a clipboard and a pencil, had the task of completing a treasure hunt, which involved finding facts about specific works of art in various rooms, navigating their way around the gallery. During drawing activities, groups of students were found absorbed, gazing at art works that they had only previously seen on screens, they were so excited to see familiar works such as Van Gogh’s Sunflowers, up close.

    After a packed lunch and a trip to the gift shop, the afternoon was spent in the recently refurbished National Portrait Gallery. Beginning with a trip to the education rooms, we were greeted by a member of staff who chatted to everyone about portraits and the type of portraits that can be found in the gallery. The students had plenty of opportunities to get involved with the interactive displays, and found being turned into a portrait of a King or Queen very amusing.

    A firm favourite in the Portrait Gallery was the exhibition Windrush: Portraits of a Pioneering Generation, which had been commission by King Charles.

    A prize of chocolates was awarded to the person who created a great drawing (Congratulations Angelina) and house points were awarded to two students who completed the treasure hunt fully.

    After an amazing day, we all got on the coach, which unfortunately hit one traffic jam after another. The students were amazing and behaved brilliantly after such a long journey home. We would like to pass on our thanks to the parents and guardians who patiently waited for our late return.

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  • Jesus Christ Superstar – Milton Keynes Theatre

    Published 13/11/23

    On Thursday 2 November, the performing arts department took 55 music and drama students to see the long-standing Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical – ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’ at Milton Keynes Theatre.

    The story is told through the eyes of Judas, in Jesus’ last days before his death and is a sung-through musical which was a new concept to many of the students. The students' conduct was exemplary (with an usher commenting on how fantastic they’d all been) and those who had been to ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ earlier in the year with us were pleased to see one of the cast from that musical playing Jesus. Thank you to parents and carers for bringing them and fetching them from the theatre.

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  • Year 12 Trip to Paris

    Published 13/06/23

    A group of 51 of our Year 12 students had a fantastic time away in Paris last week, discovering all the incredible history and culture the city has to offer!

    The group enjoyed a picturesque river cruise down the River Seine, a visit to the palace of Versailles and the Pompidou Centre, along with its contemporary art gallery, as well as some free time spent soaking in the sights at the Champs-Élysées and Arc de Triomphe.

    For the final day, students explored the Sacre Coeur and the Louvre, before heading home Sunday morning - we hope you've all had a great trip!

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  • Year 12 Lessons from Auschwitz trip

    Published 24/03/23

    On Wednesday 22 March, three Year 12 students accompanied Miss Cambio and the Holocaust Educational Trust to take part in the Lessons from Auschwitz Project. This was an invaluable opportunity for students to learn outside the classroom.

    The students started their day in the town of Oświęcim (Auschwitz) where they visited the local synagogue. Here they were able to see pre Jewish life in a town that had a high percentage of Jewish people and understand the vibrant background of a group that has been persecuted for years. They then continued to Auschwitz 1, receiving a tour from a historian and Rabbi, visiting cell blocks, the execution post and seeing exhibits of possessions - the proof of these atrocities.

    Students were able to enter the gas chamber and crematorium at Auschwitz 1, the only remaining crematoria on site. The experience was hard hitting and difficult at times, but the students understood the significance and importance of visiting such sites. The focus was on humanising the Jewish people who suffered at Auschwitz and telling the forgotten story.

    We then moved onto Auschwitz 2 where students saw the vast site of Birkenau, with 1.5km of wooden barracks, stretching as far as the eye can see. Our students at this site focused on the testimonies of the survivors and all three students took part in reading out these testimonies to the group. The day finished with a ceremony lead by Rabbi Eckstein, who sang the holocaust memorial prayer in Hebrew. Students lit a candle during this ceremony and laid it at the end of the railway line. A significant day for students, who now have been given the task of creating a project to continue the education of the holocaust further to our school community.

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  • A Level Visual Art trip

    Published 20/02/23

    On Thursday 9 February, The Visual Art department arranged a school visit to the Victoria and Albert Museum and Tate Modern in London for our A level Fine Art and Photography students.  

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