At King James we believe in providing a variety of opportunities to build independence, develop life skills and learn about other cultures. International travel is an exciting prospect for young people so we strive to organise as many overseas trips as possible. These are our current options.

CHALLENGE ESPANA ... MADRID & BARCELONA

In July, students will be taking part in an exciting challenge inspired by the popular TV show, Race Across the World.

Twelve students have been selected to take part in the trip based on their exceptional behaviour, positive attitude to learning and the large number of achievement points they have earned in lessons. At the beginning of the trip, students will divide into four teams, each led by a member of staff, and teams will compete against eachother to complete a series of challenges in the beautiful Spanish cities of Madrid and Barcelona.

Although the group will travel to Spain together, once in the city the race will be on to solve a series of top secret cryptic clues, which will be provided by Mr Grieveson, our Headteacher. Teams will gather photo evidence to prove their arrival time at each "clue'!

The group will spend four days in Madrid and a further two days in Barcelona, with plenty of opportunities for experiencing Spanish cuisine and culture built into the itinerary. This is an exciting opportunity for participants and a way for us to thank and reward those students who give 100% to their studies on a daily basis. Please visit our website for further details.

MALTA & GOZO

In September, Year 12 Media students will travel to Malta for a week of culture, sightseeing and documentary film making.

Students will visit some of the most historic sites on the island including the Grand Harbour in Valetta and Mdina, the Silent City, alongside tourist attractions such as Popeye Village, the film set used in the 1981 movie starring Robin Williams.

The itinerary also includes a variety of excursions and activities including a Blue Lagoon Island Tour to Comino, a Segway tour on the nearby island of Gozo and a trip to Malta Zoo, alongside visits to some of the many museums and churches on the island.

Throughout the trip, students will write scripts and gather film footage, which will be edited into a travel documentary about the island on their return to King James. This moving image project forms part of their coursework for their Level 3 BTEC in Creative Media Production.

AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam has so much to offer in terms of culture and opportunities for learning. There are two trips to look forward to in the next academic year.

In October, Sixth Form students will have the opportunity to visit Amsterdam for a cultural experience involving a range of sightseeing and learning activities. Walking tours around the city will allow students to take in the elaborate architecture, and the itinerary will include a visit to the Museum District, the Jewish Quarter and a visit to the Anne Frank Museum. Students will learn about Amsterdam during the Nazi occupation and visit the Auschwitz Monument.

In May 2020, a group of 40 students in Years 7 and 8, accompanied by staff in our PE Department, will travel to Amsterdam for a football-themed experience. During the six-day trip, students will be coached by Ajax Academy staff and play friendly matches with some of the local youth teams; this really is a football fan's dream. There will also be plenty of time to experience Dutch culture and for city sightseeing.