THE New Year started with an Italian ski adventure for 42 pupils and six members of staff from Cirencester Kingshill School.

The school party made up of complete skiing novices and experienced skiers spent a week in the Aosta valley in Italy, skiing and sampling Italian culture and hospitality.

Snow conditions were great underfoot with three days being perfect blue skies and crisp white snow. Fresh snow tested even the strongest skiers but all raised to the challenge.

Apres -ski activities included a pizza night, a disco, Aosta town shopping and for the first time ice-skating in Courmayeur.

The week culminated with pupils being presented with their certificates and badges by their ski instructors to mark their level of achievement during the week.