Students have experienced geological and climatic extremes on an adventure to Iceland.
The group of Year 10 pupils from Barnard Castle School walked on a glacier, explored a lava tube and went caving during the five-night tour.
They visited Eyjafjallajökull, a volcano that last erupted in 2010, and swam in the famous Blue Lagoon at Jokulsarlan.
Their accommodation included a remote log cabin and a hotel whose location gave them a spectacular view of the Northern Lights.
Student Jemimah Osborne said: “The glacier walking was hard work but really enjoyable. It was very cold but we were all prepared for it.
“The Blue Lagoon was amazing. Dressed in nothing but our swimwear in the freezing cold, we slid into the hot water and swam to the middle of the lagoon to have face masks applied.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip but a particular high point for me was the unusual architecture and construction of the Harpa Concert Hall Conference Centre.”
The students were accompanied by teachers David Dalton, Mike Nicholson and Catherine Bainbridge.
Mr Dalton said: “We squeezed in a terrific amount in our five days in Iceland including some outstanding walks and visits to amazing waterfalls. Seeing the Northern Lights once again was a bonus.
“Trips like this are really valuable in giving our pupils close-up experiences of incredible natural phenomena and reinforcing their understanding of different environments.”