FLINTSHIRE students made rapid progress as they took to the slopes on a biennial school ski trip.

Flint High School took a party of forty three, including staff, to the Italian ski resort of Pila in the Aosta Valley.

Nick Spearpoint, PE teacher, said: “The school runs the ski trip every other year and it is always hugely popular with students.

“The students were mainly complete beginners except for a handful who had been on the previous trip with the school.”

After a long coach journey the students, and staff, were eager to get their skis on.

Staff and students soon moved on from the nursery slope, many excelling under the expert supervision of the Interski instructors.

By the end of the week all skiers had progressed up the mountain from the nursery slopes, with many skiing expert-only black runs and participating in a slalom race.

Staff praised the excellent teaching of the Interski instructors which enabled the students and staff to make such rapid progress.

Mr Spearpoint, who is a ski fanatic, added: “We had fantastic weather for the whole week with bright blue skies, and the snow was perfect.

“This was the best trip we have done to date. The students made amazing progress thanks to the fantastic instruction from Interski.

"It was great to see how much their confidence and skills grew in such a short space of time.

“The behaviour of all the students throughout the week was exemplary and I would like to thank them, and all the staff, for making it such a memorable trip.

"We will definitely look to return to this resort again.”

The students also enjoyed an action-packed program of fun, extra-curricular activities including ice-skating, a pizza night and karaoke.

Students were expected to try to speak some conversational Italian too and sample the local delicacies, with the ice cream parlour proving a popular destination during the week.