Wakefield Girls' High School (Senior Section) - Residential Trips Guide 24-25

RESIDENTIAL TRIPS

WGHS Senior Section

2024 - 2025

rtunity for our students to enrich their learning outside of the classroom, explore develop their understanding of the wider world. In addition our trips are a fabulous new interests, passions, make new friendships and consolidate those they already made during trip experiences which we repeatedly hear about in school and within BTA bonded and ATOL protected where relevant. This guide aims to provide as e for you and your daughters so that you can make the most informed choices. All owever, please be mindful that precise flight times etc. still need to be confirmed. irmed in due course by the respective trip leader. We look forward to bringing you will add them as details are agreed.

How To Book

Trips are classified as mandatory, desirable or optional. Mandatory trips are married to academic specifications and are included in fees. Desirable trips have educational value and are subsidised by school. Optional trips have more of a social dimension and are fully funded by parents / students.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis, determined by the receipt of payment/deposit on ParentPay (not the return of a reply slip to a letter).

We recommend that all of our students in Years 7 to 13 attend our residential trips and that other mandatory trips, which are linked to subject specifications, are also attended. Additional trip details will be provided by trip leaders in due course via our weekly email to parents. Please be mindful that prices may change depending on external events, including exchange rates movements.

YMCA Lakeside

Desirable Trip: Year 7 students

Staff Lead: Mrs K Lindley

Date: 18 - 20 Sept 2024

Cost: £305

Tour operator: YMCA

Overview

We are delighted to run a residential trip for all students in Year 7. The aim of the trip is to give the girls an excellent opportunity to learn to work as a team, trust themselves and one another, whilst taking part in the many outdoor group activities overseen by both school staff and YMCA Lakeside instructors.

The price of the trip will be £305, which includes all food, accommodation (en-suite bedrooms in a newly- built accommodation block) and activities.

Filey & Scarborough

Mandatory Trip: Year 13 A-Level Biology students

Staff Lead: Dr S Barber

Date: 2 - 4 October 2024

Cost: included in fees

Tour operator: WGSF

Overview

This field trip is an opportunity to enrich students’ understanding of practical fieldwork, which is an essential component of A level Biology. During the field trip, students will be taught a number of ecological sampling techniques, as well as being introduced to the adaptations and physiology of a number of organisms found on a rocky shore. The field trip provides the ideal opportunity for students to complete their own independent study into a chosen aspect of rocky shore ecology, which will contribute towards completing the practical skills endorsement of the A level Biology qualification.

Most of the field work will be carried out on the Brigg at Filey in North Yorkshire, but we stay in Scarborough at the Crown Spa Hotel. During free time, students have the opportunity to dine out in Scarborough.

Rome

Optional Trip: Years 10 - 13 Classical Civilisation students

Staff Lead: Mr J Hargreaves

Date: 20 - 24 October 2024

Cost: approximately £1000

Tour operator: Nimrod Festivals and Tours

Overview

This 4 day trip, joint with students from QEGS, is offered to students in Years 10-13 who will be studying Classics subjects at GCSE and A Level in 2024/5. The trip is half board with the students needing money to buy their own lunches on all but one day.

The Rome study tour will immerse students in the material evidence of the GCSE and A Level

Classical Civilisation courses. The sites and museums provide fantastic opportunities to study, at first hand and in their physical context, the prescribed and additional evidence that students are expected to know in detail. Classical language students will also be able to study the context in which their literary texts are set.

Nice

Optional Trip: Year 11-13 students

Staff Lead: Mr R Westerdale, QEGS French and Spanish teacher

Date: 21 - 25 October 2024

Cost: £910

Tour operator: NST / France Langue

Overview

This is a 5 day trip to Nice in the south of France, a trip which has run many times before. We fly from Leeds Bradford. The aim of the trip is to provide a fun and meaningful cultural and linguistic immersion experience to students of French in Years 11-13 at the time of travel. In Nice, we will be looked after by the language school France Langue. They will provide us with fun and interactive lessons in the mornings and cultural excursions in the afternoons. They will also be arranging the homestay options for us. This is where students stay in a pair with an approved French host family who provide breakfast and dinner as well as practical help and, most importantly, conversation during the stay. Students are on a half-board basis, hence expected to buy their own lunch. We suggest pocket money of around €10-15 per day will be reasonable.

A full briefing meeting will be given around 2 weeks prior to departure.

London

Optional Trip: Years 10-13 Art, DT, Food Technology and Textiles students.

Staff Lead: Mrs N Phillips

Date: 29 - 31 October 2024

Cost: approximately £460

Tour operator: Euro Study Tours

Overview

Design & Technology visit the Science Museum to view displays on material and technological developments through the ages, as well as marvel at the exhibition on the history of human flight. The trip also includes a visit to the old Battersea Power Station to see how architects, designers and engineers have transformed it into a state of the art, modern centre. We climb to the top of the chimney to admire the wonderful views of London.

Art students visit the Natural History Museum, The National Gallery, The Saatchi Gallery and the V&A. The students produce live sketches of work that inspires them and take first hand observations from the museums ready for development back in the classroom.

The Textiles students gain inspiration for their own projects from their visits to Savile Row, The Tate Modern, The V&A Museum and Somerset House. Visiting exhibitions at these galleries provide fascinating and inspiring insights into the world of Fashion and Textiles.

Food and Nutrition students will have the opportunity to visit food magazines head quarters and London’s famous Borough Food Market to find inspiration of ingredients and presentation techniques to use in their final NEAs.

As a whole group we take flight on the London Eye to take in the breath taking views of London and watch a theatre show in the West End. Breakfast and evening meals are provided. Pupils will need to bring additional spending money for lunch, snacks and optional souvenirs

Naples

Optional Trip: Year 8 students

Staff Lead: Mr J Hargreaves

Date: 17 - 21 February 2025

Price: approximately £900

Tour operator: Nimrod Festivals and Tours

Overview

Every year during the February half term holidays, our Year 8 students have the opportunity to explore the world famous Roman sites on the Bay of Naples that were destroyed and preserved by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD79. We take students to the ‘must see’ sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, as well as the National Archaeological Museum in Naples that houses many of the finds from the sites. In addition students will get to see some of a selection of smaller, less well known sites: Oplontis, Stabiae, Cumae, Baia, Boscoreale.

The trip allows students to explore what life was like in and around the small provincial cities. Additionally, students who have been on this trip and go on to study GCSE Classical Civilisation will have visited many of the sites to be studied in the “Roman city life” component that makes up 50% of the course.

The cost of all meals is included while we are in the resort; students will need money for additional refreshments and snacks, and for any souvenirs they might like to buy.

For more information on this trip, see the full guide here.

Cranedale, Yorkshire Wolds

Mandatory Trip: Year 12 A-Level Geography students.

Staff Lead: Mr R Tribe

Date: 10 - 13 February 2025

Cost: included in fees

Tour operator: Crandale / WGSF

Overview

This compulsory residential field trip to Cranedale Field Studies Centre in Malton, North Yorkshire, is an opportunity to enrich students’ understanding of practical fieldwork in human and physical aspects of the course and is an essential component of A level Geography. The course is full board and will provide A level students with practical fieldwork skills which they will use in the Non Examined Assessment project which makes up 20% of the fnal A level marks.

Italy Ski Trip

Optional Trip: Year 9 students.

Staff Lead: Dr M Durrell

Date: 5-12 April 2025

Cost: approximately £1,500

Tour operator: Maxski

Overview

We welcome skiers of all abilities and this is an excellent opportunity for to improve or learn to ski and holiday with friends. We will travel by air from a Northern airport to Italy, ski in the Folgarida resort and stay in the Hotel Derby.

The price of the trip is £1,500 and includes return coach and air travel from School to Folgarida, 7 nights' full board accommodation, 6 days' professional ski lessons for 4 hours per day, 6 days' lift pass, 6 days' hire of boots, skis, poles and helmets, a full evening entertainment package and ice skating (subject to weather conditions), full insurance cover and a Max Ski rep.

Catalonia

o study Spanish

udents who are studying Spanish to immerse themselves in age skills acquired in lessons and enjoy the beautiful of the most visited tourist attractions the region of by plane and coach.

at a family run hotel in Calafell. The accommodation is half meals are provided. The final itinerary is yet to be decided cable car, walks along the beach by the hotel, We plan to g a visit to the Boqueria market, the famous Sagrada Familia Espanyol and a visit to the harbour. There will also be a eekers, a visit to Port Aventura theme park.

Rhine Valley, Germa

Optional Trip: Year 8-9 students who study German

Staff Lead: Mrs E Lister

Date: 27 June - 1 July 2025

Price: approximately £850

Tour operator: NST

Overview

This will be an opportunity for your child to practise their Germ environment. Travel will be direct from school by coach (fully f Channel ferry crossing (Dover - Calais). Pupils will stay at a sm at the official German Youth Hostel in Koblenz on a half board money to buy lunch every day and will be encouraged to spea

Excursions include a visit to the famous Burg Eltz castle, a boa river Rhine, a cable car ride and exploration of the town of Rüd wonderful open air swimming pool there. We also plan to go b whole day at the Phantasialand Theme Park near to Cologne.

The total cost will be around £850 per pupil, however, this amo number of pupils wishing to participate in the tour. The amoun accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, return travel by c insurance, and all excursions.

Costa Rica

Optional Trip: Years 10-13 students (those who study a language have priority)

Staff Lead: Ms C Donau-Green

Date: 7 - 16 July 2025

Cost: approximately £2,900, full board, no additional money required

Tour operator: Kipling Tours

Overview

This exciting 9 day trip to Central America will offer an unforgettable opportunity to get immersed in one of the world’s most unique and biodiverse places. Costa Rica is a safe paradise with a very stable political climate and economic development. It provides the perfect combination of World Heritage sites, authentic Aztec and Mayan culture full of colourful customs, fine cuisine and wildlife set in the most beautiful unspoiled natural environment.

Our day trips will include a boat trip and stay in the Tortuguero National Park, a chocolate producer tour at the Tirimbina Rainforest, an Volcano Arenal Hanging Bridges Tour, Baldi Hot Springs, the famous Arenal Sky Trek canopy tour, a Sloth Sanctuary Visit. In addition, you will be part of the Malekus Community, learning about their customs including how they bury their dead, their art and crafts and their medicinal plants. You will also be treated to a traditional Maleku meal, dance presentation with native Maleku language and ceremonial dress. This study trip will not only boost your linguistic skills but open a whole horizon of culture and natural beauty.

Costa Rica Tour video

Coming soon in 2025...

Canaries

Optional Trip: Years 9 - 13 students in academic year 2025-26

Staff Lead: Dr M Durrell

Date: 21 - 24 October 2025

Cost: approximately £1350

Tour operator: Diverse School Travel

Overview

This is a 4 day trip to the Canary Islands. While it might have particular relevance to the GCSE Astronomy and A Level Physics students, it is open to anyone who will be in Years 9 to 13 in October 2025. The trip will be centred on a basic but comfortable hotel on a full board basis. We are planning to visit the observatory on Mount Teide and if the night is clear, to enjoy an evening star gazing session in some of the darkest skies in the EU. Other highlights include exploring Teide National Park and a visit to the Pyrimades de Guimar.

The price given is approximate, as it will depend partly on the cost of air fares and the transfer between Wakefield and Manchester airport. All meals, excursions, transport and insurance will be included in the price. The only additional cost will be a small amount of spending money

Coming soon in 2026... Iceland

Optional Trip: Years 10-13 students in academic year 2025-26

Staff Lead: Mr J Ryding

Date:14 - 19 February 2026

Cost: £1595, full board

Tour operator: Kipling Tours

Overview

After a hugely successful trip to Iceland at Easter 2024 WGHS students will once again travel to celand in February 2026. Seeing the best of what Iceland has to offer including The Golden Circle, Secret Lagoon, Glacier Hike, Lava Caves, Into The Glacier and a visit to the rarely visited Westman Islands. Additional details will be shared after May half term via our weekly email to parents. Places will be offered to Geography students in the first instance, and remaining places

will be offered to other Year 10-13 students afterwards.

Coming soon in 202 Sports Tour to Sou

Optional Trip: Years 11-13 students in academic year 2025

Staff Lead: Mrs K Hunter

Date: 8/9 July - 21/22 July 2026

Cost: approximately £3350, full board Tour operator: InspireSport

Overview

We are excited to announce plans for a 12 night, 13 day Sp trip will include sporting fixtures in Netball, Hockey and Vo any of these sports teams during the academic year of 202 13 only). Although all details have yet to be finalised, includ depart on 8/9th July 2026. In addition to the sports fixtures exciting excursions, such as a two day safari, a tour of Rob museum, a Cape Point Tour including Boulders Beach and

ImportantInformation

All our overseas trips are ABTA bonded and ATOL protected where relevant. This guide aims to provide as much information as possible for you and your daughters so that you can make the most informed choices. All the information is correct however, please be mindful that precise flight times etc. still need to be confirmed. This information will be confirmed in due course by the respective trip leader. We look forward to bringing you more trips in the future and will add them as details are agreed.

Trips are classified as mandatory, desirable or optional. Mandatory trips are married to academic specifications and are included in fees. Desirable trips have educational value and are subsidised by school. Optional trips have more of a social dimension and are fully funded by parents / students.

Registration is on a first come, first served basis, determined by the receipt of payment/deposit on ParentPay (not the return of a reply slip to a letter).

We recommend that all of our students in Years 7 to 13 attend our residential trips and that other mandatory trips, which are linked to subject specifications, are also attended. Additional trip details will be provided by trip leaders in due course via our weekly email to parents.

Please be mindful that some additional trips may be marketed as new events & opportunities come to light. Therefore, similar to real world commercial practices this document may evolve. Any changes or additions will be communicated through the normal school channels. Furthermore, although we try to be as accurate as possible with trip information, particularly regarding prices, please be aware that external events and exchange rate movements etc. may occasionally influence price changes.