Iceland Trip

Our pupils have had a fantastic start to their Iceland trip!

On Monday, the group visited the Bridge Between Continents, where they had the opportunity to walk between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates. This was followed by a visit to the Gunnuhver hot springs, where pupils observed geothermal activity up close.

The following day, pupils explored Sólheimajökull Glacier, experiencing Iceland’s dramatic glacial environment firsthand. They also visited the coastal village of Vík, the black sand beach at Reynisfjara, and two of the country’s most well-known waterfalls, Skógafoss and Seljalandsfoss.

Everyone is enjoying the snow and the experience of multiple seasons in a single day.

Yesterday began with a light-hearted April Fools’ Day prank, as teachers claimed they had witnessed a spectacular northern lights display at 2:30am but had been unable to wake any students. While some quickly realised the date, others were understandably disappointed at having missed such an event, until the joke was revealed with a playful photo from Mrs Jones.

The day then commenced with a relaxing visit to the natural geothermal hot springs at Secret Lagoon, providing a memorable and rejuvenating start.

Later, we experienced the breathtaking beauty of Gullfoss Waterfall, where students also learned about the inspiring efforts of Sigríður Tómasdóttir, who played a pivotal role in protecting the falls from being developed into a hydropower station in the 1920s.

The visit concluded at Geysir Geothermal Area, where students thoroughly enjoyed anticipating the dramatic eruptions of the geysers.

On Thursday, the students visited the Hellisheiði Geothermal Power Station, where they learned how Iceland harnesses hot water beneath the Earth’s surface to generate electricity and heat for homes. They also explored the CarbFix method, which stores carbon gases in rock, an exciting development in tackling global warming.

The students then explored a 180,000-year-old lava tunnel before travelling through a blizzard to Reykjavik, Europe’s smallest and most northerly capital city. The day ended with a final dinner at the Hamborgarafabrikkan.

On the Final day, the students attended the Icelandic Lava Show, experiencing real lava flowing at 1100°C while learning about Iceland’s volcanic history.

Their final activity was FlyOver Iceland, a 4D cinematic experience showcasing the incredible landscapes they had visited and those they would like to come back to see!

All students represented the school exceptionally well throughout the trip and were a true credit to the school community.