A Journey Through Time: MVA's Educational Excursion to Bath

On the cusp of spring, as the air buzzed with anticipation for the Easter holidays, Minerva's Virtual Academy (MVA) embarked on an unforgettable educational journey to the historic city of Bath. This wasn't just any school trip; it was a vivid exploration of history, culture, and the remarkable legacy of the Romans in Britain, especially their veneration of our patron goddess, Minerva.

Mark Edwards, our Head of Middle School, described our adventure perfectly: "A brilliant educational trip to Bath on 28th March, with 60 MVA students from Year 7 - Year 12. Students took part in a tour of the ancient Roman Baths, guided by Bill Bryson on their headsets. They saw the source of the famous hot spring and the incredible complex of cold, warm & hot 'baths' the Romans constructed in honour of our patron goddess Minerva! After lunch at Nando's (a popular choice), we had a hands-on demonstration of 'Medicine through the centuries', explaining how the Romans imbued healing properties into the spring waters and how this shaped medical developments thereafter. An excellent day just before Easter!"

This trip was not just an academic excursion but a day filled with discovery, laughter, and bonding over shared experiences. The guided tour through the ancient Roman Baths, with Bill Bryson's voice enriching our understanding, was nothing short of magical. It offered our students a window into the past, where the grandeur of Roman engineering and their reverence for the divine were on full display.

Adding to the day’s excitement, our athlete mentor, Sol, joined us, making the experience even more special. Reflecting on the trip, Sol shared, "Joining the Bath excursion was eye-opening for me. While I usually work closely with our young athletes, experiencing the wider MVA community in such a vibrant setting was brilliant. It underscored the value of our inclusive and supportive culture, not just in sports, but in every aspect of our students' development."

The highlight of the day, however, was perhaps the hands-on demonstration of 'Medicine through the centuries'. It's one thing to read about history in books, but another to witness firsthand the ingenuity of ancient civilisations and understand their profound impact on medical practices that shaped the world.

As we reflect on our day in Bath, it's clear that such excursions are invaluable. They breathe life into the pages of history, foster a sense of community, and inspire our students to explore, question, and learn beyond the confines of traditional classroom settings.

Our journey to Bath was a testament to the incredible community at MVA, where education is about acquiring knowledge and building connections, understanding our past, and inspiring a future full of possibilities. For prospective parents considering MVA for their children, this trip exemplifies the enriching, holistic educational experiences we strive to provide—where learning leaps off the page and into the minds of our students.

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