All first year students were involved in a weeklong trip / activity as part of Wider Skills Week in July 2009. The week is a key part of the student year and is an opportunity to develop their skills in a subject area of their choice. Each subject department offered trips and / or events, and activities included the media department running animation and short-film workshops, Geology took students to Italy, Geography went to Iceland and Politics went to Berlin. In the Art department, internationally renowned artist Claude Heath came in to teach students.