International Trips
At Invicta, we believe in providing our students with enriching experiences that transcend classroom boundaries, igniting their curiosity and expanding their horizons.
Our commitment to promoting cultural awareness is reflected in the diverse array of international opportunities we offer. Students can explore the world firsthand through immersive experiences designed to enhance their learning and personal development.
From exploring the landscapes of Iceland to delving into the bustling streets of Silicon Valley in San Francisco and exploring the forefront of enterprise and business, our international trips offer unique perspectives that inspire innovation and critical thinking.
In addition, our students have the extraordinary opportunity to participate in a Model United Nations Conference in Geneva, where they can engage in diplomatic discourse and hone their negotiation skills on a global stage.
We also send several students each year to represent our school on an exchange trip to Hong Kong, where they are fully immersed in our partner schools' vibrant culture and academic life. These experiences not only broaden their understanding of different cultures but also cultivate lifelong friendships and global connections.
At Invicta Grammar School, we are committed to nurturing well-rounded individuals with the cultural competence and global awareness needed to thrive in an interconnected world. On this page, you will find a selection of international trips our students have had the opportunity to visit.
Model United Nations Conference, Geneva - January 2024
Nine delegates from Invicta recently travelled to Geneva, Switzerland to attend the 14th FerMUN conference. Sarah from 11C sent the report below! To view the full report from the trip, please see this link
This FerMUN was especially unique, having based all committees in the same council, the incredible ILO - the only UN organisation with a tripartheid structure, allowing workers and employers to be represented alongside governments.
The US Mission saw wonderful diplomats (working closely with Ambassador Sheba Crocker) motivating us in our studies, discussing diplomacy work, and speaking simply on what it’s like to be an international citizen. We were in awe as they made diplomacy seem human during an engaging discussion about ethics and our autonomy.
All nine delegates delivered wonderful clauses, amendments, and points of information. Amelie from Frank 2 delivered one of the ambassador’s speeches for the equality committee, and Sarah in 11C received a special mention from her chairs during the closing ceremony. Our six committees debated issues identified in the UN Sustainable Development Goals and related them to the ILO's mission: to achieve a just transition towards decent work. All committees enjoyed partaking in Just Dance and watching the Russian delegates dance the Rasputin was a true pleasure.
We are eternally grateful to the FerMUN board, the 564 students who shaped the conference, the IGS MUN leaders (Sophie, Adeana, and Rachael) and Mrs Uzochukwu.
Auschwitz, Poland - November 2023
Lorcan in Nightingale 2 sent this report about the day.
On Tuesday, 14 November, my fellow Year 12 pupil Katie and I had the incredible opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau State Memorial and Museum in Poland for the day, as part of the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ scheme, which is facilitated by the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Before we visited, we were asked to complete an orientation seminar the week before, but (as we had expected), the visit was both very thought-provoking, and packed with the inevitable emotional impact that one would expect in visiting such a place.
The day was long and tiring, but we both felt that it was completely worth it.
We felt like we really did come out of it with both a starkly clearer view of the atrocities committed in the Holocaust, but also a number of questions that can now be explored through further research. We are both looking forward to sharing what we have learnt through our Next Steps Project.
Thank you so much to Miss Reeves for gaining Invicta students the places to go on this trip, and for the excellent and hard-working staff of the Holocaust Educational Trust who made such an important and impactful day happen.
If you would like to learn more about the work of the Holocaust Educational Trust then please do so here.
STEM visit to Orlando - October 2023
Ananya in 9V sent this report:
On Monday, 23 October, 38 students from Years 9-13 went on an exciting week-long STEM trip to Orlando, USA. They were accompanied by Mrs Berry, Miss Woodford, Mrs Wheeler and Mrs McGivern. It was such an engaging week, with the opportunity to ride many exciting rides, as well as attend numerous workshops.
We went to four different theme parks – Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure (which had some of the biggest rides). Also, most importantly, we got to visit Kennedy Space Centre.
I enjoyed many things about the trip, including the fireworks show at Disney’s Magic Kingdom and the Spacecrafts at Kennedy Space Center. I particularly enjoyed the Physics of Rollercoasters at Disney (which explained how electromagnets are used to power rollercoasters) and the Revenge of the Mummy workshop (which explained how small details in a rollercoaster tell a story).
Overall, we had such a great time learning about new things and meeting new people. We are so lucky to have had this opportunity.
Silicon Valley, San Francisco - October 2023
Over the Autumn half-term, Invicta students travelled to the West Coast of America for a social sciences trip in which they explored California including Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Our students visited the Walt Disney Museum to explore the history of Disney's global business, they also toured the Stanford University campus, the holocaust museum and the Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, ending the trip with a visit to Universal Studios!
To view the full report from Mrs Pearman please click here
Exchange Trip, Hong Kong - October 2023
Abbie in 11A sent this report:
Over the half term we went to Hong Kong for the exchange programme with G.T College. This was following the G.T students coming over to invicta in May. We all had a great time with various activities put on by the school and our buddies. These included a Cantonese lesson, calligraphy and nun chucks and the ocean park to name a few and also a very cool trip to Hong Kong University which was a fantastic experience.
The school welcomed us all and we had a good time meeting students as well as playing the school team in FlyBall. Our buddies ensured that we had fun outside of school we experienced typical tourist sites such as Disneyland and the river front to see the light show as well as some local places like darts and some smaller malls. My favourite part overall was the day trip to Cheung Chau where we took a walk to the end of a trail to see some amazing views of the island. We were allowed to go off on our own to get some food but the group I was in got a bit lost so we ended up going through the streets where people lived which was really cool as we got a taste of life in Cheung Chau. We all really enjoyed our time in Hong Kong and we all had a very different but very positive experience. Thank you to Mr Hunt for making sure we had a great time and GT for giving us an unforgettable experience.
Netball Tour, Barbados - July 2023
During the first week of the summer holiday, several Invicta students were invited to take part in a Netball Tour in Barbados.
Ski Trip, Austria - April 2023
Mr Ehren sent this report:
What an incredible week this year’s ski trip turned out to be. After a rather challenging start (52 hours to complete what should have been an 18 hour journey!) everyone had a brilliant week. Although the outward trip was hindered due to the delays at Dover our terrific group of students behaved brilliantly and took everything in their stride. Our drivers from Grange Travel were ace as well. They were both so cool, calm and collected it made everything much easier. The communication from the docks left much to be desired but this was made up for by our drivers and the communications from IBT, our tour operators.
When we finally got to our hotel we had a few short hours sleep before we were back out and skiing. Everyone was absolutely shattered for the first day, having not had a full night’s sleep for what felt like an eternity, but they all did a great job making the most of the situation. We were really lucky in terms of weather and snow for the week. Nights were cold and crisp meaning that the snow was great the next day. When skiing we were lucky enough to have beautiful sunshine for the whole week giving us excellent conditions to enjoy our stay.
These trips are always a real pleasure to lead and the group that came away this year were super all week. In terms of skiing, our top group were challenged with black runs and long fast tours of the mountain. At the same time, our beginners and intermediate groups all made fantastic progress building up to successfully navigating blue and red slopes. The students who had never skied on snow before were most impressive, some looking like they had been lots of times before by the end of the week.
To read the full report please visit the Invicta News article here
Food Trip, Italy - March 2023
Mrs Bond sent this report:
What an amazing few days our Year 9 and 10 Food Preparation and Nutrition students have had!
Day 1 - We had an early start on Saturday, 11 March, leaving Gatwick at 7.40am for Italy; arriving in Sorrento at lunchtime. Students had some free time to wander the beautiful narrow streets, lined with fruit stalls, (very popular) jewellery stalls, leather and ceramic shops.
We then made our way to our first workshop; pizza making, where we had the restaurant all to ourselves. Students were taught how to make authentic Italian pizza dough and had a go at throwing and shaping it before adding toppings, and cooking it. The best bit was eating their creations! We then went to a gelaterie where students learnt all about gelato; how it differs from ice-cream and the importance of using fresh ingredients. Thanks to Evie’s skills at scooping the gelato from the machine we all had double helpings of the amazing gelato flavours on offer!
To read the full report please see the Invicta News article here
Disney DT Conference, Paris - March 2023
Invicta's Design Technology students embarked on an educational trip to Disneyland Paris to attend a conference focussed on the design and production process including the production of Disney souvenirs, which undergo an 18-month journey from concept to creation. They also delved into the engineering marvels behind the park's rollercoasters and thrill rides. In addition to the conference, students enjoyed immersive experiences around the park, including witnessing captivating parades and illuminations, making their trip both educational and unforgettable.
