News & Resources

Rector's Message Request a Prospectus E-newsletter Bus routes and directions

Posted: Wednesday 2 June 2010

School Geography, Swiss-Style

04 SwitzerlandPupils studying S3 Geography spent their May activities week in Switzerland, a country renowned for its beautiful scenery and endowed with numerous geographical study opportunities.

"Thankfully avoiding the disruption caused by a certain Icelandic volcano," says Geography teacher Duncan McCulloch, "40 pupils and five staff set out early on Sunday morning for Geneva, before taking the winding coach trip to our base in Leysin in the Swiss Canton of Vaud. This small village is located high up in the Swiss Alps to the east of the stunning Lake Geneva."

03 SwitzerlandSurrounded by colossal snow-peaked mountains, the pupils spent the first evening discovering the local area. The following day, with temperatures reaching a glorious 27°C, was spent doing work on tourism and settlement, including thrusting questionnaires in front of unsuspecting locals and tourists! The afternoon was one of the highlights for many of the pupils - a visit to the Nestlé factory to look at a local industry and, of course, some tasting!

05 SwitzerlandThe remainder of the trip incorporated a walk to ‘Langletscher', a striking glacier, where pupils marvelled at many of the landforms they had learned about in the classroom. Muscles were relaxed in the thermal baths, before we took part in a ‘River Ramble', again learning about many of the features that pupils will study in Higher Geography.

"The pupils have learned a great deal about ‘real life' Geography," says Mr McCulloch, "before they embark on their Higher course next year and all enjoyed the five-day trip immensely."

Tags: Geography, International, S3, School Tours

<  Return to news