How Educational Trips to Rome Support Your Curriculum

For art students, it’s a living gallery of sculpture, painting and architecture. For classical studies, it brings the ancient world into sharp focus. For religious studies, it offers direct encounters with Catholic traditions, beliefs, and practices. And for Italian Language students, it creates practical opportunities to listen and speak in context. 

Put simply, school trips to Rome don’t just enrich learning; they make classroom knowledge real and memorable. In this post, we'll take that idea further and explain how Rome supports the curriculum at KS3, GCSE and A-Level.

Art

In Rome, students will encounter major works first-hand.

At Key Stage 3, that supports the evaluation and analysis of creative works, introduces students to the work of great artists, craft makers and designers, and helps them to understand how historical and cultural contexts shape artistic expression.

At GCSE, Rome strengthens students’ responses to museum, gallery and site visits. It also supports personal reflection, critical engagement with key artists and designers, and a deeper understanding of historical and contemporary contexts in art.

At A-Level, Rome is especially powerful. Students can explore continuity and change across styles and movements, consider the impact and influence of major artists, and make more independent judgements about meaning, technique and context. It provides rich stimulus for sketchbooks, visual research and personal portfolio development.

Curriculum relevance:

• Key Stage 3:
  • Evaluation and analysis of creative works
  • Works of great artists, craft makers and designers
  • Effects of historical and cultural contexts
• GCSE:
  • Responses to museum, gallery and site visits
  • Personal reflections on art
  • Works of key artists, craftspeople and designers
  • Contemporary and historical contexts of art
• A-Level:
  • Impact and influences of various artists
  • Continuity and change in different genres and styles
  • Independent judgements of art
  • Conveying meaning through images and artefacts
  • Personal portfolio: reflections, resources and influences

Key sites and activities:

• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Home to a collection of around 70,000 works of art, only 20,000 of which are currently on display. The collection was amassed by the popes over the centuries, originally to preserve the treasures of ancient Rome. There are works by many of the world's most famous artists, including da Vinci, Giotto, Raphael, Titian and Caravaggio. But perhaps the most celebrated work is the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, famous for its frescoes by Michelangelo.
• St. Peter's Basilica: The ideal space to explore architecture, sculpture and symbolism together. Students can study scale, composition and visual storytelling in a setting that leaves a lasting impression.
• Borghese Gallery and Museum: A real highlight for students interested in painting and sculpture. The collection offers close engagement with works by major artists and encourages careful observation and analysis.
• Macro Gallery: A contemporary experience that helps students compare historic and modern approaches to materials, ideas and presentation.
• Castel Sant' Angelo National Museum & Barberini Palace: Important sites that will deepen students’ understanding of patronage, collecting and the way art reflects political, religious and social change.
• Capitoline Museums: Housing one of the oldest collections open to the public, the focus is on the art and architecture of ancient Rome (and sculpture in particular), although there’s a large collection of Renaissance and Baroque art to explore too.

Learning outcomes:

• Analyse artworks in their original setting (rather than in reproduction)
• Compare different periods, styles and artistic intentions
• Understand how religion, politics and patronage shaped artistic production
• Gather visual research and personal reflections for coursework
• Build confidence in discussing art using subject-specific vocabulary

Religious Studies

Rome offers exceptional curriculum value for religious studies because it allows students to explore belief, practice and influence in a real-world context.

At GCSE, it supports the study of Catholicism, including key beliefs and practices, the role of religion in society and questions around religious expression and identity.

At A-Level, Rome opens up wider discussion around religious influence, heritage, multicultural societies and the relationship between faith, art and public life. It gives students the chance to see how religion has shaped communities, institutions and cultural landscapes over time.

Curriculum relevance:

• GCSE:
  • Influences of religion on society
  • Key beliefs and practices of Catholic Christianity
  • Freedom of religious expression
• A-Level:
  • Influences of religion on society
  • Religious heritage within art and architecture
  • Similarities and differences between religions
  • Multicultural societies

Key sites and activities:

• Church of Santa Maria della Concezione and Catacombs: Prompts thoughtful discussion around mortality, devotion, tradition and the ways that religious meaning is communicated through sacred space.
• St. Peter's Basilica: One of the clearest examples of Catholic belief and practice made visible through architecture, ritual and symbolism. Here, students can explore how faith is expressed collectively and materially.
• The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus: Helps students understand early Christian communities, burial practices and the historical development of Christian worship.
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel: Rich in religious imagery and offer strong starting points for discussing theology, authority, interpretation and the communication of belief through art.
• Santa Maria Maggiore: One of the four papal basilicas, it’s the largest Marian church in Rome and is considered the first Marian sanctuary in the Western world.
• Great Synagogue of Rome: Learn more about the history of the Jewish community in the city. Treatment by the city's authorities has varied throughout the ages, largely depending on the attitude of the incumbent pope towards the community (with some more sympathetic than others).
• Basilica of San Clemente: A visit to this minor basilica actually allows you to visit three periods of Christian worship. The present-day basilica, which was built in the 12th century, sits on top of a 4th century basilica. And this sits on top of 1st century Roman ruins, which include a Mithraic temple. 
• Pantheon: One of the best-preserved ancient Roman buildings in the world, the reason it’s so well preserved is that it’s been in continual use as a place of worship for around 2,000 years.

Learning outcomes:

• Explain key features of Catholic beliefs and practices with greater confidence
• Understand how religion influences society, culture and identity
• Interpret religious symbolism in art and architecture
• Reflect on continuity and change within Christian tradition
• Make stronger links between theological ideas and lived experience

Classical Studies

For classical studies, Rome is hard to beat. It allows students to engage directly with the physical remains of the Roman world and connect literary, historical and cultural knowledge to real places. At GCSE, this supports topics such as Roman beliefs, myths, symbols of power, death and burial, domestic life, public entertainment, family structures and the military.

At A-Level, Rome is equally valuable for exploring Roman culture, political life, civic identity and the ways rulers shaped the city to project power. It gives students a vivid sense of how ideology, architecture and daily life worked together in the Roman world.

Curriculum relevance:

• GCSE:
  • Greek and Roman gods
  • Ancient temples and their uses
  • The foundation of Rome
  • Roman festivals
  • Myths and symbols of power
  • Practices and beliefs around death and burial
  • Myths about the Underworld. 
  • Systems of education and marriage for young women
  • Roman buildings: houses, amphitheatres and baths
  • The role of the family in Ancient Rome
  • Chariot races
  • The Roman military in the Imperial period
• A-Level:
  • Roman culture
  • Augustus Caesar's restoration of Rome
  • Improvements to the city of Rome
  • The Secular Games
  • Roman society and citizens
  • Roman political life

Key sites and activities:

• Colosseum: An essential visit for understanding spectacle, power, public life and Roman entertainment. It also supports discussion of imperial authority and social hierarchy.
• Ostia Antica: One of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in Italy, Ostia's streets, houses, shops and public buildings help students imagine how ordinary Romans lived and worked.
• Palatine Hill: A strong site for considering the foundation myths of Rome, elite life and imperial image.
• Roman Forum: Explore politics, religion and civic life. Students can connect textbook content to the physical heart of ancient Rome.
• The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus: Supports the study of death, burial and changing religious practices in the Roman world.
• Circus Maximus, Baths of Caracalla & Baths of Diocletian: All show students what leisure time looked like in ancient Rome.
• Welcome to Rome: Helps students to visualise the city across time and reinforce prior learning before site visits.

Learning outcomes:

• Connect literary and historical sources to archaeological evidence
• Explain how buildings and public spaces reflected Roman values
• Understand Roman religion, politics and society in greater depth
• Evaluate the use of myth and monument in shaping identity and authority
• Retain knowledge more effectively through place-based learning

Italian

With a history spanning 28 centuries, there really is no better place to learn about the history, language and culture of the Italian peninsula. In Rome, your students will have the chance to experience the famous dolce vita and all the wonderful quirks of Italian culture, from the rituals surrounding coffee and food to the magic of the passeggiata. 

Indeed, Rome really gives language learning a purpose. Instead of practising vocabulary in isolation, students use Italian in authentic, everyday situations. At Key Stage 3, that supports topics such as introducing themselves, food and drink, hobbies, town and place, cultural traditions and describing people or experiences.

At GCSE-level, students build confidence in transactional language, travel and tourism vocabulary, everyday conversation, cultural awareness and understanding of Italian identity. At A-Level, the city provides a rich context for exploring society, customs, heritage, diversity and independent research themes.

Visits to local markets, cafes and restaurants are perfect for practising transactional language, such as ordering food and asking questions, and will boost students’ confidence in navigating real interactions. Walking tours and time spent in public spaces offer students opportunities to describe their surroundings, give opinions, ask for directions and talk about what they like (or dislike) in Italian.

Visits to major landmarks like the Vatican Museums or the Borghese Gallery help students engage with Italian cultural heritage while extending topic-based vocabulary. And a guided visit through different areas of the city will encourage students to observe daily life and compare it with their own experience, deepening cultural understanding.

Other activities you could consider including in your itinerary are activity trails (ask us about our Race for Time activity trail), interview tasks, travel diaries, mini speaking challenges, menu decoding and student-led cultural presentations.

Curriculum relevance:

• Key Stage 3:
  • Exploring the town
  • Hobbies and pastimes
  • Food and drink
  • Eating out
  • Introducing yourself
  • Describing others
  • Likes and dislikes
  • Cultural traditions
• GCSE:
  • Food, drink and eating out
  • Daily life and free time activities
  • Customs, celebrations and festivals
  • Home, town and neighbourhood
  • Sports and music events
  • Holiday destinations
  • Travel and tourism
  • Understanding Italian culture and identity
• A-Level:
  • Aspects of Italian society
  • Music and media
  • Cultural heritage: festivals and customs
  • Immigration and cultural diversity
  • Mussolini and the Fascist Party
  • Individual research project opportunities

Key sites and activities:

• Borghese Gallery and Museum
• The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus
• Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel

Learning outcomes:

• Use practical Italian more confidently in real situations. 
• Improve listening skills through exposure to authentic spoken language. 
• Expand vocabulary linked to travel, food, culture and everyday life. 
• Develop stronger cultural understanding and curiosity. 
• Feel more motivated and confident about language learning back in the classroom. 

Next Steps

If Rome’s already on your shortlist, now’s the time to turn interest into action. Start by thinking about your learning goals. Which topic needs the strongest focus? Which students will benefit most? Which experiences will help you meet both curriculum and wider school priorities?

Then build from there. Shape an itinerary that matches your course content and choose visits that create clear classroom links. Plan a trip that feels ambitious, manageable and genuinely worthwhile.

A trip to Rome can deepen subject knowledge, spark curiosity, strengthen confidence and create the kind of shared learning experience students remember for years.

And when you’re ready to start planning, we’re here to help you make it happen. Enquire today for your quote.