Bedales students climbed Mount Etna as the grand finale of a six-day Geography Studies tour of Sicily, which focused on volcanic and earthquake hazards.
Thirteen students ascended Etna by cable car and then travelled by jeep to the snow-topped crater to experience the volcano in all its glory. During the climb, the students were able to see the lava flows created from previous eruptions in the 1990s and 2001–02 to help their understanding of the scale of the eruptions and the impact on the surrounding community.
The trip prepares students for their Geography exams in June, when they will be required to detail their observations from this fieldwork. In addition to Etna the students saw the urban set-up of Palermo, the basaltic columns of the Alcantara Gorge, and enjoyed time spent in Milazzo and Giardini Naxos.
Commenting on the trip, Head of Geography Kirsty Layton said: 'Being able to take the students beyond the theory to places like this really does give geography its relevance in their lives. Travelling out of tourist season and avoiding the crowds makes it all the more intense – walking on the crater rim at the summit of Europe’s most active volcano, and warming their hands on the rocks after walking across the snow covered slopes is something they won’t forget. Even with extensive thunderstorms, floods and minor landslides, the students were able to follow the local news, experience the events first hand – a truly awe inspiring experience. We look forward to developing it further next year.'
Many sixth-form students at the School come fresh from studying Bedales' own alternative qualifications – the Bedales Assessed Course – as a more challenging replacement for GCSE and which better prepares them for the rigours of A-level and university study.