Pupils learn more about First World War

Pupils in Year 9 stepped back in time to find out more about the harsh realities of the First World War on a History trip to Ypres in Belgium which included visiting the famous Menin Gate as well as Commonwealth and German cemeteries.

This trip began with a visit to Langemark German war cemetery which provided a fascinating contrast with Tyne Cot Cemetery, the largest Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery on the Western Front, which they visited later in the day.

Pupils then went to Ypres town where they saw the Menin Gate memorial to soldiers whose graves are unknown, as well as visiting the Market Square and a shop selling finest Belgian chocolate. The afternoon included going to Passchendaele Memorial Museum, which is a Belgian museum devoted to the 1917 Battle of Passchendaele where, in only 100 days, almost 500,000 men were killed for the gain of only eight kilometres of ground. Later the group went to Tyne Cot, which has 11,500 graves as well as a memorial wall bearing the names of another 34,888 soldiers.

During the trip there was also an opportunity to visit a smaller cemetery where a Worth pupil was able to lay a wreath at the grave of her great uncle. There was a wreath-laying ceremony to accompany this with readings from pupils.

The day was a humbling experience for pupils but gave them a great insight into the First World War and complemented classroom studies of History.

Every year students at Worth take part in a wide variety of trips, exchanges and visits.

For more on studying History at GCSE or in the Sixth Form click here.

Find out more about trips at Worth here.