Nelson and Colne College students enjoyed a cool trip to Iceland where they were able to enhance their studies with visits to some of the country’s iconic sights and Iandmarks.
The 26 Geography, Geology and Physics A Level students loved every minute of the once-in-a-lifetime trip and they arrived to a winter wonderland, flying in the day after the volcanic island saw a record amount of snowfall.
Three days of bright sunshine meant students experienced everything that was on the action-packed itinerary, and this included watching the stunning Northern Lights and immersing themselves in the internationally famous Blue Lagoon.
Students also visited various important geographic features during the trip, including some of the island’s geysers and waterfalls, and they had the chance to step over on to the North American tectonic plate from the Eurasian plate to boot.
Enrichment opportunities alongside studies are a key part of NCC’s Career College ethos as it aims to get students ready for further education, an Apprenticeship or the world of work.
Ewan Bryan, 17, said: “Geology is something I find interesting and I enjoy it as a subject. Going to Iceland summarised a lot of what I had recently learnt by looking at the landscape and the products of the landscape such as geysers and volcanoes.
“Seeing pictures of structures in lessons is good but going there to see them for myself has been a great help to my studies.”
Fintan McDonnell, 17, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Iceland. It was nice to spend some quality time with friends in such an interesting and fascinating environment.
“One of the best moments of the trip to Iceland, in my opinion, was seeing the Northern Lights. It was an incredible sight and being lucky enough to see them certainly made the trip worthwhile.
“The trip has helped me to understand and further my knowledge on elements of the globalisation topic within the Geography course. I would recommend NCC to others for a variety of reasons. It is an excellent College which not only seeks, but drives, to constantly ensure that their students are achieving their potential.”
The College is number one in Lancashire for student satisfaction, according to a recent FE Choices Learner Satisfaction Survey, and the latest government data places NCC as top in the county for A Levels, based on progress scores, measured against colleges who entered more than 100 students into exams.
Science teacher Ste Coase said: “Iceland is an amazing country, and because of its uniqueness, it is the perfect destination for an educational enrichment trip.
“Fantastic weather also meant we were able to make the most of the activities we had planned. The diverse landscape really enhanced our students’ learning as they were able to see unique geographical features for themselves and develop a greater understanding of them.
“There really is no substitute for trips like this and they are vital to providing an outstanding education for our students. This is why NCC is so committed to taking advantage of these opportunities whenever possible.”
For more information about Nelson and Colne College contact 01282 440272 or visit www.nelson.ac.uk
