Action-packed trip takes in two great American cities

Politics A Level visit to New York and Washington DC

At the ghastly hour of 01:45 on the first Monday of the autumn half-term, 27 Sixth Form pupils and three staff set off from school for an action-packed week-long tour of New York and Washington DC.

The group filled their three-night stay in New York with a wide range of tours and activities including a visit to the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, Wall Street, the World Trade Centre site, the United Nations, the Museum of Modern Art, Central Park, Chinatown and, of course, various shops and restaurants.

The stay in New York was followed by a coach transfer (that also included a three hour stop-over in Philadelphia) to Washington where, during the next three days, they visited the Capitol, the Supreme Court, a range of Smithsonian museums, significant monuments including the new Martin Luther King memorial and even more shops (especially in Georgetown) and restaurants. Not only did pupils get to see a wide range of political, historical and cultural treats but they were also lucky enough to witness politics in action, including a one-man protest near Congress and campaigners who were protesting as part of the Occupy NY and DC movements.