Globe-trotting students at West Coventry Academy enjoyed a record-breaking 137 trips last year – covering a staggering 15,200 miles – and there are plenty more planned for this year.
From STEM and languages to sports, humanities and performing arts, West Coventry’s mileage covered all aspects of school life, with 3087 students taking part in life-changing visits.
Associate Assistant Headteacher Claire Fazilleau said: “At West Coventry Academy, we believe that learning extends far beyond the classroom.
“Educational visits and trips play a vital role in enriching students’ academic studies, developing independence, and broadening cultural understanding.”
Students from the school – which is part of the Arthur Terry Learning Partnership – made five international trips, including memorable stays in Barcelona, Almeria and Paris and two impactful visits to Auschwitz in Poland.
Miss Fazilleau said: “Our international trips are always very popular and left a real impression on our students.
“Trips expose students to different cultures, traditions, and ways of life, boosting their cultural understanding – which is especially important for our languages department.”
West Coventry students also travelled the length and breadth of England, from Liverpool to London and from Dorset to Cambridge.
Hard-working languages students headed to Cambridge University for the finals of Routes Into Language’s prestigious National Spelling Bee, while budding historians gained an insight into historical archiving at Warwick University.
Aspiring chefs attended University College Birmingham’s cooking day, and science enthusiasts were treated to STEM Engineering Day at Millennium Point and the Big Bang Careers Fair.
Miss Fazilleau said: “Trips are important for our students as they connect classroom theory to real-life experiences.
“We put a lot of focus on potential careers, with trips to RAF Cosford, civil engineering company EKFB, Sky Studios, West Midlands trains and more.
“Our programme of visits supports the curriculum, promotes personal development, and creates memorable experiences that inspire lifelong learning.”
A Level criminologists visited Shrewsbury prison for a glimpse into the British justice system, while GCSE geographers got hands-on fieldwork experience at Carding Mill Valley.
As part of West Coventry’s performing arts enrichment programme, students were treated to world-class productions of Carmen at the Royal Opera House and Wicked at the Apollo Theatre in London.
And of course, talented sportspeople from across the school travelled far and wide to compete in sports fixtures.
But nothing highlights how the school’s trips bring students together quite like the residential trips, which create memories to last a lifetime.
Students took part in two residential visits to Boundless Outdoors, and those working on the Duke of Edinburgh Award undertook expeditions across the British countryside.
Miss Fazilleau said: “The residential trips are amazing. They’re the perfect opportunity for our young people to learn teamwork, trust, communication, and cooperation, while also forging strong friendships.
“Being in a new environment helps students develop confidence, decision-making skills, and a sense of responsibility for their belongings and behaviour, particularly for residentials.”
Headteacher Ana Neofitou said: “At West Coventry Academy we believe that a fully rounded education extends far beyond the classroom, and trips for our students are a regular part of school life.
“We are so proud of how our students conduct themselves on all of our trips, and how they grasp every opportunity given to them.”