In December, a group of Year 13 Physics students travelled to Switzerland to broaden their understanding of nuclear fusion at the Plasma Centre in Lausanne and to visit CERN in Geneva.  Their time at CERN included tours of several areas connected to the Large Hadron Collider, the 27‑kilometre accelerator used to investigate the fundamental particles that make up our universe.

During the visit, students had the opportunity to observe a range of cutting‑edge experiments and speak directly with researchers, who helped to deepen their understanding of concepts studied at A Level and how these are applied in modern scientific work.  The group also explored the CERN Visitors Centre, where interactive displays offered a more hands‑on insight into the complexity and significance of these remarkable experiments.

The trip proved highly educational and students were particularly inspired by the level of international collaboration that drives progress in global scientific research.

In addition to the academic aspects, the group enjoyed taking in the beautiful scenery of Switzerland and even came across a parade of historical reenactors.  One evening, students put their knowledge of momentum into practice in a slightly more light hearted setting - by going bowling.

Below you can see some of the images taken from the trip, more are available to view on the galleries page of our website.