For many of the Year 6 (10 to 11 years old) pupils at Monega primary school, the five-day study visit to Trento, Italy was unlike anything they had ever experienced. Nearly all of them were travelling abroad for the first time in their lives, and for several, it was their first time on an aeroplane. The trip, fully funded through the Turing Scheme, gave these young learners access to an international educational experience that their families simply could not have afforded independently.

Trento was chosen deliberately. Nestled at the foot of the Dolomites in northern Italy, the city offers an extraordinary concentration of curriculum links for primary-age children: Roman history preserved in ruins beneath the modern city, world-class science and geology in the surrounding mountains, food culture that connects directly to design and technology objectives, and a thriving partner school community ready to welcome British pupils for a genuine cultural exchange.

Iana, 11: “It was really really fun, I had a great time, the views were incredible and the food was amazing too! Also we got to eat pizza, pasta and ice cream. It was the best trip ever!”

Saira (Teacher): “I believe this is an exciting opportunity for pupils, especially in my school where the cohort of families we have may not have the means to explore other countries. Some pupils had never flown before. Seeing their confidence grow over five days was genuinely moving. This is exactly what the Turing Scheme should be doing.”

• Deepen knowledge of geography and geology through fieldwork in the Dolomites and at Lake Caldonazzo

• Explore Roman history and Italian heritage through guided visits to archaeological sites and historic landmarks

• Gain practical food safety and preparation skills through a hands-on pizza-making workshop

• Build cultural awareness, empathy, and teamwork through joint projects with Italian peers

• Develop confidence and independence through first international travel experience

The five-day programme was structured to balance educational visits with meaningful human connection. Each morning began at the partner Italian school, where pupils from both countries worked side by side on creative joint projects that had been designed collaboratively in the weeks before the trip. Penpal exchanges, mural painting sessions, and language workshops gave the British pupils a window into daily life at an Italian primary school, and gave their Italian counterparts an equally rare perspective on education in the UK.

Field visits formed the backbone of the outdoor curriculum. The group travelled into the Dolomites for a geology and geography session, observing limestone formations and learning about the geological processes that shaped northern Italy over millions of years. A visit to Lake Caldonazzo allowed pupils to explore freshwater ecosystems and connect classroom learning about water systems to the real landscape in front of them.

In the city itself, pupils visited the Trento Science Museum, where interactive exhibits brought physics, biology and environmental science to life in a way that no school laboratory could replicate. A guided tour of Buonconsiglio Castle gave the group a vivid introduction to medieval Italian history, before a descent into the Roman ruins preserved beneath the modern city centre provided a remarkable, tangible encounter with ancient history.

At the host school, the pizza-making and food hygiene workshop, delivered by a local chef, rounded off the programme with a hands-on practical session that touched on food safety, preparation techniques, and the cultural significance of food in Italian life. Pupils were able to eat what they made, which, according to every account, was the highlight of the trip!