Sixth form students at St John Bosco Arts College, Croxteth, recently visited the USA, where they explored the country's history and global influence during a five-day trip.

20 students from St John Bosco Arts College Sixth Form travelled to New York and followed an action-packed itinerary designed to broaden their cultural awareness and understanding of the city as a global centre of culture, politics and economics.

Organised by St John Bosco's head of sixth form, Miss Charlotte Lyon, who accompanied the students alongside another member of staff, this is the first time the school has travelled to America and marks its first trip outside Europe since students visited China in 2019.

During their visit to the 'Big Apple', students had the opportunity to participate in a range of activities and visited world-famous sites and landmarks that shape the city's iconic identity and international significance.

Sixth form student, Emily, said: "Our trip to New York was honestly one of the best experiences of Year 12. Seeing the skyline for the first time, walking through Central Park, and just exploring the city with my friends and teachers made everything we've worked for this year feel worth it."

Arriving late afternoon on day one of the trip, the sixth form students familiarised themselves with their surroundings before heading out to Times Square and visiting Summit One to take in the bright lights and atmosphere of the city.

The following day, students explored the Federal Reserve Bank before taking a one-hour guided tour of the United Nations Headquarters, gaining insight into one of the world's most important international institutions. Following this, students had the opportunity to visit the Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge before an evening dinner reservation at the Hard Rock Café on Broadway.

Year 12 student, Miley, commented: "Walking across the Brooklyn Bridge was surreal, and seeing the Statue of Liberty up close is something I'll never forget."

On day three, students clocked up an impressive 30,000 steps during a walking tour of Downtown Manhattan, which took a total of three hours to complete. During the tour, students reflected on one of the most pivotal events in modern American history whilst visiting the World Trade Center Site and 9/11 Memorial.

Year 13 student, Rachel, said: "Visiting Ground Zero was a really powerful moment for all of us. It was quiet and reflective, and you could feel the weight of history there. It made us stop and think, and was one of the most meaningful parts of the whole trip."

The sixth formers then arrived at the Empire State Building for a two-hour visit and strolled through Central Park ahead of their planned evening activities. The following morning, students had a final chance to visit the 'Breakfast at Tiffany's' display and the Louis Vuitton building, to take inspiration for their fashion course, before travelling to JFK International Airport for their flight home.

Miss Charlotte Lyon said: "This trip was an incredible experience for our sixth formers, and it was fantastic to see them fully embrace everything New York has to offer. Throughout the various visits and tours, students engaged thoughtfully and enthusiastically which only helped to broaden their cultural capital and understanding of the world.

"I could not be prouder of how brilliantly the students represented St John Bosco Arts College and their attitude throughout the five days made the trip a truly memorable experience for everyone involved."

Headteacher of St John Bosco Arts College, Mr Darren Gidman, added: "Experiences like this are so important as they reflect our school's Salesian ethos of developing students morally and socially, as well as academically. By taking learning beyond the classroom, our students have been able to broaden their horizons and gain first-hand experiences of global culture.

"Thank you to Charlotte and the sixth form team for organising such a wonderful trip and creating memories for our students that I'm sure will last a lifetime."