French trip adds up for Newcastle school

Newcastle students enjoyed a visit to Paris with a difference, when they travelled to the French capital for a maths-themed adventure.

The 25 students from Years 9, 10 and 12 at St Cuthbert’s Catholic High School stayed at the Premier Classe Paris Pont de Suresnes for the four-day trip, which included a maths exhibition at the Cite des Sciences, as well as a guided tour of the Stade de France, a tour of the Catacombs, and a day at Disneyland Paris.

The group also enjoyed seeing some of the city’s most iconic sights, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and the Arc de Triomphe.

They were accompanied by Maths Teacher and Numeracy Coordinator Amanda Show, PE Teacher Sam Cheema, and Grace McLauchlan, Head of Year 9 at St Cuthbert’s, which is part of the Bishop Bewick Catholic Education Trust.

“The Maths trip was an extremely enjoyable and very significant trip that helped me create more good memories of my time here at St Cuthbert’s,” said Chindong Moses, who is in Year 10 at the school. 

“Some of my favourite parts were applying what I have learnt in a physical situation, whilst aiming to calculate the volume of the Louvre, and also the day at Disneyland was excellent throughout.

“For me personally, the trip had a perfect mix of education and excitement.”

Thomas Regan, also in Year 10, said: “I’ve been on many school trips, including Tenerife and skiing, however this was the best of them all. My favourite parts were the day at Disneyland and also the Stade de France.”

“The highlight for me was the Stade de France because I got to go in the changing rooms and see all of the players’ shirts,” agreed Caleb Sargeant from Year 9, while Nazif Tawakuly, also Year 9, said: “My highlight of the trip was riding on the Tower of Terror with all of my friends and going to the Eiffel Tower, because it turned golden and it sparkled – it was beautiful.”

Owen Murray, in Year 10, added: “It was the best school trip that I’ve been on because it was run very well and we went to places that were once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, for example the Catacombs.”

It was the first time that the trip had taken place.

“The trip allowed the boys to see Maths in a different light,” said Dan Murray, who is Head of St Cuthbert’s.
“It allowed them to apply some of their knowledge to real life, and also allowed the boys to experience a big, popular European city that they might not otherwise get to see.”