Historical trip to Russia for pupils

Collyer's politics and history students in Russia SUS-141103-144055001

The group visited Moscow and St Petersburg, two cities steeped in the history and politics of the Russian Revolution, while modern Russia hosted the Winter Olympic Games over 1, 000 miles further south in Sochi.

The students embarked on a packed schedule and highlights included visits to the Kremlin, Lenin’s mausoleum in Moscow and the Peter and Paul Fortress. A trip to the Tsar’s Winter Palace in St Petersburg gave the group a chance to view one of the world’s great art collections at the Hermitage Museum. They were also given a tour of the Moscow metro, which certainly impressed with its museum like beauty.

The students travelled by overnight train between Moscow and St Petersburg – an experience in itself. While Moscow was blanketed in a traditional winter coating of snow, St Petersburg was feeling the effects of warmer winters and so ice skating on the thawing River Neva was unfortunately out of the question!

George Lear, Subject Leader for Government and Politics said: “The students learnt so much about Russia’s complicated political and historical development, visiting some of the key sites of the Russian Revolution and also gaining glimpses of contemporary Russia. They all commented on how different Russia felt.”

Evening excursions included a visit to Erarta, a cutting edge art gallery in St Petersburg where work passed critical comment on the current Russian political situation. The group also visited a bowling alley in a mall in the centre of St Petersburg, where Russia couldn’t have seemed more western.

Sebastian Chenery, a first year History student who came to Collyer’s from The Priory School in Dorking was thrilled: “The experience was the trip of a lifetime!”

Collyer’s Vice Principal Steve Nicholls said: “The students loved their visit to Russia and this kind of trip is extremely beneficial to their AS and A2 studies. We owe a huge debt of thanks to George Lear for organising this fantastic educational opportunity.”

Report and pictures contributed by Collyer’s.