The Sixth Form trip to Russia during the Easter holidays began with a trip to Red Square in Moscow where snow storms added to the atmosphere. The girls learnt that 'krasnaya' means beautiful, and only much later became associated with communism.

Smolny Cathedral, next to the Smolny Institute where Lenin planned the 1917 Revolution, impressed the students with its colourful rococco architecture

The highlight for the art history students was the Hermitage in St Petersburg, where the sheer range and quality of the paintings was overwhelming.