In July 2026, 34 students from Seaham High School took part in an educational residential visit to Berlin. The trip was largely subsidised through Turing Scheme funding, which significantly reduced the cost to families and helped make an international educational experience accessible to a wider range of our students.

The residential was designed to provide learning opportunities beyond the classroom, with a particular focus on conservation and sustainability, history, culture and developing students’ understanding of a major European city. Throughout the visit, students were encouraged to engage with their surroundings, ask questions and reflect on how the places they visited connected with their learning in school and their understanding of the wider world.

Conservation and Berlin Zoo

A key focus of the trip was conservation, with students spending time at Berlin Zoo. The visit enabled students to consider the importance of protecting endangered species and preserving biodiversity, as well as the role that modern zoos can play in conservation, research and education.

Berlin Zoo is actively involved in international species protection and conservation breeding programmes. These programmes aim to maintain genetically diverse populations of endangered species and, where appropriate, support the reintroduction of animals into the wild. The zoo also supports conservation projects around the world and works with scientific and research organisations to increase understanding of animals, habitats and the threats facing different species.

For our students, seeing animals first-hand helped to make issues surrounding biodiversity and conservation more tangible. They were able to consider why particular species are endangered, the impact humans can have on natural habitats and the different approaches that can be taken to protect wildlife. Berlin Zoo places considerable emphasis on education, using its animals, information and educational activities to raise visitors' awareness of threatened species and the need to protect their natural environments.

The visit therefore provided an important opportunity for students to understand that a modern zoo is not simply a visitor attraction but can also contribute to conservation, scientific research, education and the protection of biodiversity.

History, Culture and the City of Berlin

Alongside the conservation focus, the residential gave students an invaluable opportunity to develop their understanding of German history, Berlin's culture and the city's place within modern European history.

One of the most significant visits was to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp Memorial. This provided students with a powerful opportunity to develop their understanding of Nazi persecution and the Holocaust by visiting an authentic historical site. Experiencing the location first-hand allowed students to place knowledge gained through school and previous learning into a real-world context and encouraged thoughtful reflection on the human consequences of persecution, discrimination and intolerance.

Students also explored a range of significant landmarks across Berlin. Visiting sites connected with the Berlin Wall and the division of East and West Berlin helped students to understand the impact of the Cold War on the city and on the everyday lives of its residents. Seeing these locations in person gave students a much stronger sense of the physical division that once existed within Berlin and helped them appreciate the remarkable changes the city has undergone.

Visits to other key landmarks and areas of the city allowed students to experience Berlin as a modern European capital while simultaneously recognising the layers of history visible throughout it. Travelling around the city, encountering a different language and experiencing German culture also helped students to develop their cultural awareness and confidence in unfamiliar surroundings.

Personal Development

The benefits of the residential extended beyond students' academic knowledge. For many students, travelling abroad as part of a school group provided an important opportunity to develop independence, confidence, resilience and responsibility.

Students had to navigate unfamiliar environments, follow travel schedules, manage their belongings and spending money, communicate appropriately in a different country and work cooperatively with both staff and their peers. These experiences encouraged students to become more self-reliant and adaptable.

Spending several days together outside the normal school environment also strengthened relationships between students and encouraged teamwork and mutual support. Students represented the school while abroad and developed a greater understanding of their responsibilities as visitors to another country and culture.

Impact of Turing Scheme Funding

The financial support provided through the Turing Scheme was central to making the residential possible and accessible. By heavily subsidising the cost of the trip, the funding reduced financial barriers that may otherwise have prevented some students from participating in an overseas educational visit.

The funding therefore provided students with much more than an opportunity to travel. It enabled them to experience learning in an international context, encounter important historical locations first-hand, develop their understanding of conservation and environmental responsibility, experience another European culture and build valuable personal and social skills.

For some students, opportunities to travel internationally and experience another culture may otherwise have been limited. The residential therefore contributed to broadening students' horizons and aspirations while helping them develop greater awareness of the world beyond their immediate community.

Overall Impact

The Berlin residential was an extremely valuable educational experience for the 34 students who participated. It successfully combined conservation, history, culture and personal development, providing experiences that could not be replicated within a classroom.

Students returned with an increased understanding of the importance of protecting endangered species and natural habitats, a deeper appreciation of significant events in twentieth-century European history and greater knowledge of Berlin and German culture. Just as importantly, they returned having developed their independence, confidence, resilience and ability to engage positively with unfamiliar people, places and experiences.

The support provided through Turing Scheme funding played a significant role in enabling our students to access these opportunities. The residential demonstrated the considerable value of international educational experiences in broadening students' knowledge, developing their cultural awareness and helping them become more confident, informed and responsible young people.

Shortly before most of the school broke up for an extended half term, twenty five students and four staff jetted off to Prague, for a city break which combined both the rich history and bright future of the vibrant Czech capital.

The trip fit our ethos of Engaging Minds and Broadening Horizons, and was been made possible in part by the support of the Turing Scheme – a government initiative that provides subsidies for young people studying or working overseas.

Students from Years 10 and 11Enterprise course had the chance to see some of the many faces of the city, with visits to the Powder Gate Tower and Prague Castle showing the heritage of the capital, and a close look at several state of the art business ventures showing their place at the cutting edge of modern enterprise.

Students peeked behind the curtain at the Rudolfinum, Prague’s stunning concert hall and theatre on a guided tour. They visited the National Technical Museum – the home of technology in the Czech Republic. And the Choco Art Museum - where all of the exhibits are sculpted entirely from chocolate, and students were invited to get involved taking part in workshops.

The whirlwind visit packed in a look at the Ruckl Glass Centre with a guided tour and workshop opportunities, a trip to the Illusions Museum and the chance to be in the crowd for an exhilarating ice hockey game. A busy schedule offered students the opportunity to see the sights, speak to people involved in a range of industries and get involved in a hands-on way.

Mr Stewart was full of praise for the students, who were excellent ambassadors for Seaham, both as a school and a town. He told us:

“Our students represented the school exceptionally well during the trip, showing maturity, respect, and genuine curiosity throughout every part of the visit. From the moment we arrived, their behaviour was exemplary — polite to guides, considerate to members of the public, and supportive of one another as a group. We have been consistently impressed by their positive attitude, punctuality, and enthusiasm for learning about Prague’s history and culture.”