At the start of the half term break, a group of 30 Year 10 and Year 11 pupils, along with Mrs Parrott, Mr Guillaud, Mr Player and Miss Lane, travelled to Normandy for a four-day French and history trip. The trip provided the pupils with the opportunity to practise their French language skills and the chance to soak up Normandy's history and culture. From exploring town markets, to walking on the D-Day beaches, there was much for our pupils to take in and uncover.
Head of History, Mr Joseph Player, said this about the trip:
"The pupils and staff set out in the dark of night on Friday 21 October to catch the dawn ferry from Portsmouth to Caen. We spent the next few days having an excellent time which included exploring the bustling town markets, seeing the legendary Bayeux Tapestry, and visiting the bunkers and memorials on the D-Day beaches. The latter was a more poignant experience as on 6 June 1944, thousands of young men fought bravely and bitterly to defeat the Nazi war machine in the decisive battle of the Second World War. We learned a lot, had a fantastic time, and appreciated the chance to pay our respects on that famous, hallowed ground."
Additionally, the following comments have been sent in from two pupils on the trip:
"For me, a highlight of the Normandy trip at the beginning of the half term break was the Juno Beach Museum because it was highly informative while also being quite interactive. There were different booths where you could listen to soldiers' stories that they wrote back home, poems that they composed, or even a story from a survivor.
Another highlight was on Saturday when we went to a local market to do some shopping. The area surrounding the market was extremely scenic and looked like it was taken straight out of a film.
All in all, it was a fantastic trip and not even the weather broke. Thank you to the staff for making it such a memorable trip!"
Robbie Dawson
"The highlight of the trip for me was probably the Omaha Memorial that we visited on the second day. It was the highlight of the trip because it lay bare to me the sacrifices these men gave and provided the opportunity for me to fully grasp and appreciate the significance of the memorial. It demonstrated what the trip was about and left me feeling not just saddened, but also extremely grateful.
We also visited a small market in the town of Bayeux, home to the legendary Bayeux tapestry. The market was a good place to stock up on food and drinks, but also to practise my French for which I am doing as a GCSE subject. We also visited the tapestry, which is an extremely intricate and eye-catching piece of artwork, as it is over 70 meters long and took more than 10,000 hours to complete.
Overall, I think the trip was not only memorable but also a great learning experience. Thank you to the staff for making this trip happen!"
Zac Dransfield
We are sure that everyone on who went on the trip had a fantastic time. The next history trip takes place on Thursday 10 November, where our Year 12 pupils embark on a trip to the British Museum in London!
