New York Review by Olivia, Year 12

I still cannot put into words how blown away I am by this almost surreal trip to New York. I am so grateful for Mrs Joy, Mr Duckworth, and Ms Wilson for the great effort, care and love they put into our trip to create a truly enriching experience that I will forever cherish.

During our stay, led by a chockfull itinerary and our fabulous tour guide Jared, we were able to visit some of the most iconic destinations that make New York; including the famous Guggenheim Museum, The Met, Hard Rock café, the Empire state building and many more. Alongside guided tours in most museums, we were given time to roam the galleries and were able to record parts of each exhibition we visited in a sketchbook kindly provided by our art department, helping further expand my knowledge in highly contemporary and traditional art, as well as aiding to develop my current project in art, working with the human form in abstract compositions.

It was such a beautiful moment for my friends and I, huddled around one cramped sofa, listening to music, and gorging on each masterpiece together. I will never forget the last night of our stay, we visited Ellen Stardust where I, not knowing what to expect, certainly didn’t leave disappointed, the evening was spent with waiters putting on some of the most iconic performances to Beauty and The Beast, Abba, and Grease.

I honestly loved every moment of our trip and I feel that I was able to make incredible bonds with people I would never have thought to in sixth form. I was also given the opportunity to try new things, taking full advantage of the fast-food trucks perched on every street corner of New York – however I did miss the feeling of fresh fruit and veg back at home.

I want to give a huge thank you to the entirety of the art department and everyone who was involved in making this a truly memorable trip for me.

Olivia, Year 12