Enrichment Trips
The Spring term has begun in a flurry of activity with a number of enrichment trips for Senior pupils.
Psychology A-level students had a deep dive into the science behind sleep at the Sleep and Clinical Research Centre at the University of Surrey, in line with their studies into chronobiology, biological rhythms, and the psychological aspects and social determinants underlying sleep and sleep disorders. They had a chance to meet the research team and explore the state-of-the-art sleep laboratories. The students learnt all about the different stages of sleep and how to analyse brain wave evidence, and got to visit the clinical research centre which is currently involved in trials for a monkey pox vaccine.
Sixth Form Design & Technology students, meanwhile, had a thrilling visit to the BMW Mini Factory in Oxford. The Plant is one of the oldest automobile plants in the world, having been in continuous production since 1913, and is the birthplace of the Mini. The students immersed themselves in the world of automobile production, seeing vehicles, bikes and components being put together in real-time, with the experience including learning about the BMW iFactory, the visionary masterplan for the entire production.
The Drama department has seen a whirlwind of trips already this term: the intrepid team took the whole of Year 7 (the largest cohort in the school) to see The Witches at the National Theatre, where our pupils enjoyed the riproaring musical version of Roald Dahl’s tale. The following week saw Year 8 seeing the hit West End comedy musical Mrs Doubtfire, based on the much-loved film. Drama trips coming up include the Lin-Manuel Miranda triumph Hamilton, and a trip for all Drama GCSE and A-level students to the Lyric Theatre see a Frantic Assembly production of the surreal tale of brutal alienation that is Kafka’s Metamorphosis.
Not content to rest on our laurels, Colfe’s has several more trips planned before the February half-term, including a Literary Society trip to the Globe Theatre to see Othello, and a Classics trip to see the UCL production of one of the greatest of the ancient Greek tragedies, Euripides’ Bacchae.
The History department will visit the Dover Tunnels, where pupils will explore the secret wartime tunnels within the white cliffs. The labyrinthine network served as a barracks for soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars, became a headquarters and hospital during the Second World War, and was equipped to serve as a seat of Government in the 1960s in the event of nuclear war. Pupils will discover the history of the tunnels from weapons and technology to uniforms and personal possessions, getting just a glimpse into the lives of the men and women who served their country from beneath Dover Castle.
A special Physics day is also coming up at the Science Live! event at the Dominion Theatre, where Year 10 physicists will hear about current advances in science from such luminaries as Professor Robert Winston, Professor Alice Roberts and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, learn about topics including anatomy, astronomy and nuclear fusion, and enjoy live chemistry demonstrations.
