Key stages 3, 4 and 5

---

Key Stage 3

There are many opportunities at KS3. All students participate in a Geography sustainability visit to The Deep, linking with topics on ecosystems and sustainability. 

In Year 7 Historians explore York whilst learning about Roman Britain and the Middle Ages, and in Year 8 as part of the study of the First World War and Modern Foreign Languages (MFL), they visit the Battlefields of northern France and Belgium. There is also the opportunity to commemorate ex-Harrogate Grammar School student 2nd Lt. Donald Bell VC with visits to Bell's Redoubt Memorial and Gordon Dump. 

English Literature students visit Dove Cottage in the Lake District to explore what inspired romantic poets.  There are also many theatre visits and writing competitions linking to events such as National Poetry Day and Readathon. 

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is active and thriving at HGS,.  We enter competitions such as the Faraday challenge and the Red Kite inter-alliance science quiz. The Rotary Technology Tournament challenges young people to enhance their STEM skills through interactive, team-based problem-solving. 

MFL offer a tightly structured three or four-day trip for each of the three languages (French, German and Spanish) that students study at KS3, during which they stay in hotel accommodation and visit places of cultural interest. The aim here is for a fun, positive and safe first taste of life in those countries, with the comfort and familiarity of students being around their friends and teachers the whole time. We alternate Spain and Germany one year, and France (including battlefields visit) the next year. 

To celebrate the end of KS3 and support the transition to KS4, all Year 9 students attend an Outward Bound Trust Centre in The Lake District for two nights and three days. This is a challenging mix of being away from home and trying new activities and most certainly gives the students the opportunity to demonstrate all of our REACH values. 

---

Key Stage 4 

To support GCSE courses we offer many tailored visits at KS4. 

There is a day visit to GCSE Science Live where well-known scientists talk about their work in a language that is understandable and engaging.   

GCSE Geography students visit Malham and Leeds for their compulsory field work which comprises 30% of the final grade. 

There are many visits to theatres in Leeds, York and Sheffield to see productions organised by both the English Faculty and Performing Arts Faculty. There is a strong belief in the power of the stage to bring a text to life. 

Students of History have the opportunity to visit Durham Cathedral and castle as part of their study of Norman England and the Thackray Medical Museum in Leeds to revise the history of medicine. With MFL, the History department also runs a trip to Munich and Nuremberg for students in Year 10 and Year 11. 

---

Key Stage 5

In addition to the MFL exchange programme, Year 12 students usually have the opportunity to take part in a variety of visits to universities and apprenticeship placements. The trip to London takes in Imperial, LSE, UCL and Kings College, whilst other trips enable students to clearly compare two universities in the same city, for example, Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam, Newcastle and Northumbria. There are also visits that allow students to learn about the wide variety of opportunities for apprenticeships and degree apprenticeships at companies including KPMG, Harrogate Water and Eversheds. Residential trips take place annually to both Oxford and Cambridge universities. 

There is an annual residential visit the The Cranedale Centre where Biology students can learn specific field work techniques along the Yorkshire coast rocky shore, sand dunes and freshwater chalk streams. 

In year 12, all A level Geography students visit Otley Chevin and Leeds to support students in collecting data for their coursework. Year 13 students are offered a non-compulsory trip to Iceland. This is not a curriculum trip but allows students to experience incredible Geography beyond the classroom. 

Product Design students visit London to the New Designers Exhibition to see final Degree projects from all over the country with the aim of inspiring the next generation of designers. 

As in KS4, there are many visits to regional theatres and Shakespeare’s Globe theatre in London. 

BTEC Music students have the opportunity to record and produce music in a professional studio at Hull University. This gives students exposure of what music at university is like, experience mixing and techniques, and come home with a recording of the songs that have been worked on during the day. 

Historians are able to visit both London and Paris to bring to life their study of the French Revolution and Tudor England.   

---

Adventure

Students have had the opportunity to go skiing for many years at Harrogate Grammar School and these trips are hugely popular. Not only do students improve their skiing, but they also have a fantastic time with lasting memories for years to come.  Recent visits have been to La Plagne (France) and Prato Nevoso (Italy).  These visits are for KS4 and KS5 students.

The equestrian society enter all local qualifiers for dressage, showjumping and arena eventing. They have an excellent success record in qualifying for the national championships. 

If you have any further questions then please telephone or email sutcliffej@hg.rklt.co.uk