Art trip: Florence, Italy

In June 2024, our Year 6 pupils went off on an unforgettable adventure. Mostly funded by the Turing Scheme, they were given the opportunity to embark on a five-day residential trip to Florence, Italy.

During their five day stay, the pupils visited the Galleria degli Uffizi and the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence, and came face-to-face with masterpieces by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli. Outside of visiting art museums, the group explored the city and viewed architectural marvels like the Duomo Cathedral and Ponte Vecchio. They also went to the Museo Galileo and appreciated astronomical and mathematical treasures dated as far back as the 16^th century.

Our pupils' outstanding behaviour was complimented on multiple occasions including at the airport and aboard the plane by airline staff, and even by Italian gelateria owners who offered the staff a free gelato as a sign of appreciation for our well-mannered children!

Their free time was filled with visits to restaurants, gelaterias and souvenir shops. They used their daily allowance to learn about exchange rates and how to budget, and daily competitions were held to see who kept the tidiest room and the winners could visit the LEGO shop as a reward.

The children's absolute favourite pastime was spending time swimming in the hotel pool; one of our members of staff went through lifeguard training prior to our trip to ensure the safety of our pupils.

The excitement remained at a high throughout the trip resulting in minimal sleep for both pupils and staff. In an attempt to persuade children to rest on the flight back home Ms Storey offered the first pupils to sleep a box of delights; to her surprise a number of other passengers on the plane asked if they could also get sweets for sleeping!

As a result of this fantastic residential trip, the pupils returned home with unique memories, an improved global perspective and an enhanced appreciation for the beauty of art.

Ms Sarah Storey said: “It’s given children, who may not have that opportunity, a chance to experience a different climate, culture, and cuisine in a fun and educational way.”

Mohamed Year 6 pupil said: “It was my first time going to Italy, and if I had to rate the trip on a scale of one to ten I’d give it one billion!”