INTREPID students from a Camden secondary are embarking on their school s first ever field trip abroad today. South Camden Community school SCCS in Somers Town has sent a group of geography students packing off to Iceland. The explorers wil

Ben McPartland

INTREPID students from a Camden secondary are embarking on their school's first ever field trip abroad today.

South Camden Community school SCCS in Somers Town has sent a group of geography students packing off to Iceland.

The explorers will be covering new ground for SCCS as previous field trips have seen pupils head for the slightly less exotic Epping Forest.

For five days, 12 students will be attempting to collect data as part of their A-level geography field trip.

Teacher Geraldine Robinson said: "It's a fantastic opportunity for the kids and it's unparalleled for our school. A lot of our pupils don't travel that far afield so it will be quite an adventure. It seems to have all come round very quickly, but I'm sure that by the time we leave, we will all be ready for it."

Apart from the time spent working, pupils will also be free to have some fun.

They have been booked in for a swim in a geothermal pool, will experience a live volcano show and go on a whale-watching trip.

Ms Robinson said: "We want to raise the profile of geography in the school. Hopefully other pupils will look at them and see what they have done and chose geography at A-level."

Since September, the pupils have been frantically trying to raise the £7,000 needed to fund the trip.

They took part in a 10km sponsored walk over London's bridges and charged other students £1 each to ditch their school uniform for a day.

A campaign was also organised to ask businesses to contribute to the cause and one teaching assistant has agreed to have his beard shaved off.

Ms Robinson said: "The fact that the kids have had to raise all the money themselves will make it all the more worthwhile for them. They've had to work so hard to get it so it gives them much ownership of the trip.

"It's required real effort on their part, it hasn't come easily but they will enjoy it all the more."

Lily Sommer, 16 said: "I can't wait to go to Iceland. I have never been anywhere that cold before."

Her classmate Ali Hussain, 16 said: "This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for us. We have put a lot of work in to fundraising and I am really looking forward to the trip."

ben.mcpartland@hamhigh.co.uk