A LETTER FROM OUR HEADTEACHER - MR I SMITH

SIXTH FORM
LEARNING COMES TO LIFE IN LONDON
Visiting London as a part of the Geography A level
course was, as expected, a very exciting experience.
Our case study of the London Docklands came to
life as we ventured around the Dockland’s Museum.
We learnt in greater detail about the decline and
regeneration of the area, throughout history and
continuing today. The challenges groups have faced
when converting the area from industry to the high
end market and businesses was also put into
perspective. It was astonishing to see such a change
through history.
We later moved on to the Olympic park where,
after the Olympics, the aim was to continue to use
the area as a sporting venue and ‘inspire a
generation’. The Aquatics Centre is open to the
public on most days, but also still hosts
competitions for professional athletes, therefore
fulfilling the Olympic legacy. The grounds of the
park are open to everyone, for every occasion,
from strolling through the parks to watching West
Ham play in the old Olympic athletic stadium.
Regeneration here has definitely been successful.
When in London, visiting tourist areas is essential.
After viewing the areas directly linked to
regeneration we were able to go to some of the
most famous areas in London, including Big Ben, the
London Eye and the Houses of Parliament. These
are beautiful monuments which are a large part of
the city’s culture, so it was great to be able to
compare the historic elements such as the Tower of
London with the modern additions including the
London Eye. Overall, my first experience of London
was extremely positive and the whole group was
able to solidify much of the knowledge gained in
class.
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