Iceland 2025 trip

News - Feb 14

Last month, Mrs Gill and three colleagues took forty A Level Geography students on a field trip to Iceland. The trip provided students with a unique opportunity to explore the wonders that Iceland has to offer; from swimming in the Blue Lagoon whilst having a refreshing drink, to exploring the Solheimajokull Glacier in crampons in the metre deep snow, witnessing the effects of glacial melting and discussing climate change impacts, these students all engaged in an action packed, informative trip.

Students were also educated by experts in many fields including that of geothermal energy at the Hellisheidi Power Plant, where they could see the operations in action and investigate the use of carbon capture and other new technologies that could help shape the future of our planet in a sustainable way. They also saw lava made at the Lava Centre and experienced the feeling of being in an earthquake. On the last day, students had a ride on the ‘Iceland Flyover’ where they were treated to views of the beautiful country at different times of year from a ‘virtual reality’ perspective.

In addition to the vast array of physical Geography that the students were exposed to, they were also treated to a show of the Northern Lights during their stay in Hvolsvöllur. Evenings involved night swims in geothermally heated pools surrounded with snow or snowball fights in Reykjavik. Overall, a trip which has had an impact on them, given them knowledge for their Geography A Level and equipped them with many new skills. It is also one where our students made a huge positive impact on those they met in Iceland, with comments from restaurants about our students’ fantastic conduct and from the glacial tour guides and teacher leaders regarding their genuine thirst for knowledge.

This quote from one Year 12 student sums up the trip:

‘The Iceland trip was the best school trip I’ve ever been on. It incorporated Geography into a recreational trip in the best and most fun way possible, from geothermal pools, glacier hikes, and going into a caldera, to snowball fights, card games and great chats. The teachers are so amazing, and even if you don’t really know anyone, you can get along with people you’ve never spoken to before and never thought that you’d ever speak to. The food and changing accommodation made every day feel exciting and different, and the landscapes were so serene and surreal – it felt like a once in a lifetime experience and I’m so glad for the memories I’ve made and the places I’ve seen, all through coming on this trip’ – Shine Year 12.