The recent history trip was of great importance and was very interesting. Visiting the graves and the walls of the missing really put everything into perspective and definitely made everyone think and realise how great the death toll was in WW1. We learnt a lot about the war, especially in doing things like presentations and I’m sure that the knowledge will benefit us in the future as well as giving us an understanding of what it was really like for these men. Going into the trenches and bunkers was an eye opening experience. They were a lot smaller than expected and trying to imagine what these men has to endure in these conditions was not possible. It was certainly not what you expected and it gives you a sense of what it was really like as there’s only a certain amount pictures can show. Visiting those certain museums was really good as they were very interactive and that definitely engaged and interested us. 

 

Being allocated individual former pupil to lay crosses for, reading letters written about them and finding past students names on the walls made us realise that every person had a life and family they left behind and made us feel closer to the soldiers. The whole trip bought everyone together as we all shared these experiences. Along with this was also great enjoyment and days like shopping in Belgium added to the experience. I learnt a lot about the war and enjoyed the trip a lot.  –  Rosie

 

I thought the history trip was a very good experience. It was very interesting and moving. I think the trip really put things into perspective, seeing the amount of people who passed away fighting for our freedom especially by seeing the amount of graves at the Tyne Cot Cemetery and Langemark. I think the most moving aspect of the trip was seeing just the small collection of graves set back off the road where a group of men would of fallen together. I particularly enjoyed Sanctuary Wood as you could see what the conditions would of been like and the size of the trenches. I think it was very moving to lay wreathes and crosses for students that had been to Sexey’s especially as they would have been young students like us until they put their life at risk to fight for our country. The Last Post Ceremony at The Menin Gate was also a very good experience and seeing all the thousands of names dedicated to the missing in war was also very eye opening.  I would certainly have liked another day there so you could spend more time at each place and visit even more places.  However we did go to a lot of places and overall I think it was a really great trip. Also I particularly enjoyed the Belgium chocolate shopping and eating them when I got home!  –  Jemima