Year 9 London Visit: Exploring British Values
Forty-five Year 9 students recently visited London as part of the school’s commitment to promoting British values. This two-day trip was packed with educational, exciting, and engaging experiences designed to enhance students’ understanding of our core values.
The first stop on the itinerary was a visit to the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall Gurdwara, the largest gurdwara outside of India. Here, students learnt about the Sikh religion and culture, and explored how these traditions contribute to modern Britain today. They experienced the prayer room and had the opportunity to visit the Langar (free kitchen), which operates for much of the day and is run entirely by volunteers.
Following this, students spent time in Covent Garden, where they also enjoyed their evening meal, before attending a theatre performance of The Lion King.
Day two began with breakfast at the hostel, ensuring students were well prepared for the day ahead. The first activity was a visit to the Natural History Museum, where students explored a range of exhibits linked to their studies in EPW and Humanities, including dinosaurs, evolution, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Some students even experienced an earthquake simulation.
Afterwards, students enjoyed a flight on the London Eye, offering panoramic views across the capital. The final and most significant part of the trip was a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. During the 90-minute tour, students explored the centre of British democracy, walking through Westminster Hall, St Stephen’s Hall, and Central Lobby. Here, they were taken through the voting lobbies and were then able to spend time in the House of Commons (although we did have to stand and couldn't sit on the famous green benches!).
This was a highly valuable experience, one that we hope students will remember and cherish for many years to come.
