STUDENTS at The Skipton Academy are taking to the outdoors for a residential visit to the Lake District - and the school’s first-ever ski trip.

Thirty students from years eight and nine are travelling to the Outward Bound centre at Ullswater for an action-packed residential in early February.

During their week-long stay, the youngsters will take part in a range of activities learning skills from team building to nature facts and outdoor pursuits.

This is the second time the school has sent a group to the Outward Bound Ullswater centre.

Principal Wendy Hamilton said: “Last year’s trip was such a success we decided we had to repeat the experience. The Skipton Academy believes outdoor education has a very important part to play in helping our students to be the best they can be.”

Then, during half-term, 12 students of various ages head for the slopes for a week’s skiing at Folgaria in the Italian Dolomites.

It is the first trip of its kind at The Skipton Academy.

Wendy added: “We hope the ski trip will become an annual fixture. We believe opportunities such as skiing will help our students not only to boost their physical fitness, but to hear other languages spoken around them and to experience another European country.

“We hope all our students will enjoy their outdoor adventures this spring.”