In the first week of the Easter holidays, 39 Sixth Form historians undertook a nine-day visit to the USA to enrich their syllabus modules on 19th century America. The group walked Boston’s Freedom Trail and cooked a 19th century meal at a replica New England village set in the 1830s before moving on to Philadelphia’s Independence District. From a hotel base in Washington, D.C. excursions were undertaken to Fort McHenry in Baltimore, the bombardment of which in the War of 1812 inspired the writing of the Star-Spangled Banner, as well as Antietam and Gettysburg Civil War battlefields. A walking tour of the capital took in Arlington Cemetery and the many historic memorials of the city.

The group had a marvellous time soaking up all this history but also enjoyed themselves at ice hockey and basketball matches, at the cinema and at a production of an Arthur Miller play, The Price. An extended visit to a huge shopping mall also formed part of the trip, the students relishing in particular an opportunity to descend like a swarm of locusts upon an Abercrombie and Fitch outlet store for some bargain shopping.