Battlefields History Trip

On Thursday the 6th June, The History Department and 45 of our Year 9 students set off at 5am to head to Dover via coach for our annual school trip to the Battlefields of France and Belgium. The 3 day trip is run to allow our students the opportunity to honour the millions of casualties of the First World War the in the locations of key battles and it is also tailored to support the enrichment of our Year 9 History lessons on World War One. It was also the 80th Anniversary of D-Day and our students were reminded of this incredible journey across the channel that soldiers from Britain, America and Canada took to liberate France from Nazi occupation.

Throughout the trip, our students displayed truly exceptional behaviour and respect for the solemnity of the sites they visited, including Tynecot, Vimy Ridge, and Langermark memorials. When visiting memorials for the casualties of different countries involved in the Great War the students listened intently to poems and reflections read by all of their History teachers and were able to physically see the impact of the First World War on the landscape. The students also joined together in prayer for the victim’s everlasting peace and an end to conflict around the world. 

In addition, the students also visited other key sites and museums such as the Passchendaele Museum, Sanctuary Wood, Hill 60, Lochnagar Crater and Caterpillar Crater to see a range of places that were impacted by the war.

On Friday night, the students had the privilege of attending the poignant Last Post Ceremony inside the Menin Gate in Ypres, which has taken place every evening at 8pm since 1929 apart when it was impossible during Nazi occupation during World War Two. The service honours the 89,880 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died among the 300,000 others in this part of Western Flanders who were lost with no known grave. Josh L, Rhys A and Tilly W were given the privilege of laying the wreath in the ceremony for our school and did us proud. They were even congratulated for their conduct by a group of retired Special Forces soldiers who had also come to commemorate the fallen.

In addition to the historical and reflective aspects of the trip, our students also had the opportunity to unwind and have some fun. Some highlights of their free time were a trip to the independent Leonidas Belgian shop where students were treated to free samples and bought some to take home. We also went out for two games of bowling in Ypres town which they thoroughly enjoyed. Special mention to Manu C. for being ‘Top Bowler’ of the evening! To remember this memorable experience, we were even gifted a signed bowling pin as a token of appreciation to add to the collection from last year.

We could not be prouder of our students who conducted themselves impeccably throughout the trip and were excellent at timekeeping, following instructions, and showing the upmost respect for the places we visited. They demonstrated maturity, resilience, and a genuine desire to learn and pay their respects and managed around 30 hours on a coach in total very well. The staff were given compliments on the students from everyone from the hotel staff, the coach driver and staff at multiple visit sites.

Thank you to the History Team, Mr Leaman, Miss Thomas Stone and Mr Nordberg for their hard work and dedication in supporting this trip and giving up their Saturday’s as well to make the trip a big success for our students. We look forward to our visit with next year’s Year 9 in June 2025. Letters will go out to confirm your place if you applied very shortly!

Mrs Sarbatta,
Head of History