It is school policy that every child beyond Reception age, should take part in at least one day trip per term, and all pupils from Year 3 onward take part in at least one residential trip per year. All trips are carefully planned and staffed to ensure the safety of all participants, and have the common objective of both providing an intense educational value as well as helping develop the character of our children

The majority of trips take place within China and provide pupils with a unique insight into the country A carefully designed trip schedule ranging from the deserts of Inner Mongolia to the mountainous terrain of Sichuan ensures that each year group has a new and challenging experience.

Overseas trip to Switzerland

We will be going to the internationally renowned resort of Verbier in the Swiss Alps. The resort has excellent facilities for both beginners and experienced skiers. The ski season in Switzerland would be at its peak so we would have plenty of snow to enjoy. We would also have some opportunities for cultural and educational activities around the resort, without mentioning the tremendous opportunity for students taking  French to practice of course! Verbiers is an outstanding international resort.

Shanghai EXPO 2010

Shanghai Expo 2010 presents all of our children with the opportunity to be at the centre of one of the world’s most significant cultural events and it represents a unique chance to experience something many others will only be able to dream of.  Year 5 and 6 will spend 3 days in Shanghai being hosted by families at one of our sister schools, British International School Shanghai, Nanxiang Campus.

One of the highlights for Year 2 children is our Overnight Adventure Sleepover in school. The children have a BBQ and games with their teachers and TAs, followed by a movie, hot chocolate and then a relaxing bedtime story. Then they are tucked up in bed in the library by staff in their sleeping bags and with teddy for the night. It’s a big step for some of our children but their sense of achievement and pride in themselves is clear to all parents when they are picked up at 11am the next morning. The parents delight in hearing how well the children coped with brushing their own hair and teeth, choosing their own outfits and organising their belongings without mum or ayi!

In the summer of Year 3 our students visit the countryside outside of Beijing, exploring the flora and fauna of the area for two nights. They stay in a local hotel each night and hike during the day, looking at the insect and plant life as they walk, and photograph the dramatic rock formations all around them. The sketches completed during the hikes are used to create t-shirt designs which the children then make. This expedition reinforces and extends the children’s classroom learning on rocks, soils and mini-beasts. (2 nights/3 days) 

PingYao is an ancient walled city east of Beijing and is the ultimate destination of Year 4’s spring expedition.  The children first visit the Buddhist monastery of DaTong where they sketch and photograph the amazing cliff-side buildings and walk through the temple complexes nearby, consolidating their work on Buddhism. Finally they reach PingYao to explore the tiny walled city and learn about it’s ancient past and development. The children sample local delicacies and try new arts and crafts while staying in a traditional courtyard hotel. (4 nights/5 days) 

Xi’an is south-east of Beijing and the Y5 children fly there each April for the trip of a lifetime. Having studied the 1st Emperor of China, Qin ShiHaungDi, and the Neolithic settlement of Bampo, the children visit to see for themselves the remains of these great settlements and complexes. The children have guided tours of 2 funeral complexes from the Qin and Han dynasties (including ½ day at the Terracotta Warriors), along with a visit to the famous Shanxi museum and the Moslem Quarter of the city to  visit the mosque there and haggle in Chinese at the market. (4 nights/5 days) 

Year 6 set out by overnight sleeper train due north to Inner Mongolia on their summer expedition each June. Their aim is to immerse themselves in the local culture and, with this in mind, they build their own yurt to sleep in on the grasslands, have a desert safari with sand surfing, eat under the stars, try Mongolian wrestling and really get a flavour of food of the region at a traditional meal. Importantly, the children develop a keener sense of their own abilities as they are pushed out of their  ‘comfort zone’ and are encouraged to try new experiences. (4 nights/5 days) 

Hangzhou and Shanghai
Year 7 start this trip with a visit to Hangzhou’s West Lake followed by a walk around the famous Hefang Street, bustling with small traders and local restaurants. The second day the students are whisked away to a Tea plantation where they get the opportunity to see how tea is made and where it comes from with a tea tasting session afterwards. The students also get the opportunity to visit a Silk museum and try their hand at tie dye. They finish off the day watching a show in Songcheng Park. Wuzhen water town is the next port of call where the students get to explore this town for half a day before moving onto Shanghai and a leisurly cruise down the Huangpu River.
The next day involves a visit to the Urban Planning Exhibition Centre and Chenghuamiao market to immense themselves in Shanghainese life. The day is finished off with bowling and a aquarium visit. (4 nights/5 days) 

Yangshuo
Year 8 students visit the scenic Yangshuo town and begin their trip with a rural orienteering challenge and team building games within the town. They get the chance to kayak down the Li River from Fuli town, culminating in arrival at the historic village of Liu Gong. The afternoon is spent travelling to a local cave for caving. Starting with a short tutorial on cave formations the students will then journey deep in the
subterranean caverns climaxing with a visit to the infamous mud baths for a once in a lifetime experience. The third day involes The Tyrolean Traverse where the students have to test their courage on a 25 metre open air zip-line. After completing this, students will have a vertical 50 metre abseil back to the comfort of solid ground. The final couple of days are spent exploring Dragon River Valley and the karst countryside on both bike and foot. This culminates with a hike to the summit of the world famous Moon Hill. (4 nights/5 days)
 

Sichuan
Students begin their Sichuan trip in Wanjianglou Park with Kungfu practice from a local master. One of China’s oldest local arts, the Sichuan Opera entertains students in the evening. A trip to Emei Moutain follows as students get to watch the sunrise early the next day, with a walk through the Leshan Giant Buddha in the afternoon.
Students also get the opportunity to see the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding Centre to learn about the efforts to conserve this endangered animal. The rest of the day is spent exploring the Sanxingdui Museum and learning about the Kingdom of Shu and its mysterious artifacts. (4 nights/5 days) 

Longshen Dragonback Rice Terraces and Xinping
The Year 10 students fly down to Guilin to start their International Award with a practice hike and other activities in Longshen and Xingping. The week starts with a strenuous hike up steep hillsides to the rice terraces of Longshen. Students arrive in the dark at a local Inn to spend the evening. The next morning students are greeted with views across the terraces. This is followed by a six hour hike where students encounter the local Yao people and their exceedingly long hair before arriving at the village of Ping ‘An. From here the Year 10’s travel to Xingping, site of the 20RMB note. Here everyone participates in rock climbing and mountain biking amongst the limestone karsts, with a final night by the campfire in a secluded valley. (4 nights/5 days) 

Guizhou
Year 11 first experience Zhong Dong village in ZiYun county with team building activites. They camp overnight in rural accomodation before starting their next day with orienteering the route for the day with a visit to a local Guizhou restaurant in the middle of the day. Students camp overnight for a second time with skills learnt throughout the day, and the previous day. The following days are more student led with the Year 11’s planning the route and setting up the camps in suitable locations. After 4 days of hiking the students are treated to an evening in a hotel with a theatre visit and a reflection on the previous few days. (4 nights/5 days)