From Monday the 9th of July until Thursday 12th July, Woodham Academy’s More Able students travelled to Rome. Although only being in Rome itself for two and a half days, the trip managed to take in many of the major sites of this great city.

25 students (year 7 to year 10) and 3 members of staff (Mrs Scott, Mr Zielinski and Mr Gore) arrived in Rome early Monday afternoon, and after dumping their bags at the hotel, hit the street to make their way to the Time Elevator (a 4D cinematic experience detailing the history of Rome and its most famous inhabitants) grabbing a quick pizza on route. After being thoroughly educated on the lives of Augustus, Michelangelo and Bernini they set off back to the hotel, via the Trevi Fountain, to eat more pizza and get an early night.

The next day students set off bright and early to catch the packed rush hour metro to St Peter’s Basilica and The Vatican. The group was met by a local guide and shown around the interior of the Vatican museums, seeing incalculable sculptures, mosaics, tapestries and paintings (Belvedere Torso, School of Athens by Raphael, Laocoön and His Son). The visit culminated in the Sistine Chapel where students were given time to admire Michelangelo’s ceiling and many other frescoes by Renaissance artists. From there the group visited St Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, admiring its scale and collection of further masterpieces.

Paninis, pizzas and mountains of ice cream were required to see the group through the rest of the day. They pounded the streets in the blazing sun visiting the Pantheon (the temple to all gods and the resting place of Raphael) Piazza Navona (a beautiful Baroque square) and the Ara Pacis, Augustus’ Altar to Peace. For those exhausted by the miles of walking in the heat of the day another early(ish) night was needed to recuperate after dinner. A small hardy bunch headed out with Mr Gore to see the Trevi Fountain lit up at night.

The final full day in Rome moved from the Renaissance to ancient Rome. The first port of call was Rome’s most famous building, The Colosseum. The group spent over an hour walking in the footsteps of ancient Romans, taking in the scale of the building and looking for shade when they could. More of ancient Rome followed after that as the group visited the Roman Forum, Palatine Hill and Trajan’s Market.

The evening’s meal was supplied by the Hard Rock Café and from there the majority of the group spent the evening watching the doomed exploits of England in the World cup semi-final in their hotel rooms. Another small group headed out to the Spanish steps with Mr Gore to get their last view of Rome before an early bus journey back to the airport and from there back home.

The More Able Academy students were a credit to Woodham Academy, they thoroughly enjoyed the visit, broadened their horizons (and probably their waistbands with all the ice cream and pizza…especially Mr Zielinski) and showed a lot of resilience in their ability to walk for miles in the midday heat of Rome.

Woodham Headteacher, Christine Forsyth, says,”I am delighted that we are able to give our students cultural experiences which take education way beyond the classroom. The students who went will always remember this week.”