Students from West Bromwich Collegiate Academy took their learning beyond the classroom during an overseas residential visit to key First World War sites across Belgium and France.
The three-day battlefields tour, which took place in June earlier this year, saw students visit Ypres and the Somme, exploring the landscapes, memorials and locations connected to some of the most significant events of the First World War.
The visit was designed to deepen students’ understanding of the conflict through direct engagement with the places where events unfolded, forming part of the Academy’s commitment to providing enriching experiences that complement classroom learning.
During the tour, students took part in guided battlefield visits, explored museums and memorials, visited cemeteries and walked through preserved trench systems. Key destinations included Essex Farm, Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, the Bayernwald trench system, Hill 60, the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, Talbot House, the Menin Gate Memorial, Thiepval Memorial, Hawthorn Ridge Crater and Sunken Lane.
Students attended the Last Post Ceremony at the Menin Gate Memorial, where they laid a wreath on behalf of the Academy. They also took part in moments of reflection and remembrance throughout the visit, including one student reading Wilfred Owen’s Dulce et Decorum Est at a soldier’s grave.
A particularly significant moment came at the Thiepval Memorial, where students identified and learned about soldiers from West Bromwich who are commemorated there. This created a direct link between the history studied in lessons and the local community, highlighting that the impact of the First World War was felt not only on the battlefields of France and Belgium, but also much closer to home.
Seeing the names of local soldiers recorded on the memorial gave students a greater appreciation of the sacrifices made during the conflict and the importance of preserving their memory.
The visit was supported by the Academy’s ongoing work with First World War historian and reenactor David Allton, who joined the group as a guide. His expertise helped students explore the significance of the sites they visited and further develop their understanding of the First World War.
Hannah Percival, Associate Principal at West Bromwich Collegiate Academy, who also went on the visit, commented: “We believe some of the most valuable learning takes place when students are able to challenge themselves and make connections beyond the classroom. A visit like this allows them to see history in a different way and understand that the events they study are connected to real places, communities and people.
“The opportunity for students to recognise the links between the First World War and West Bromwich was particularly meaningful. Developing that sense of perspective and understanding the impact of the past on the present are important parts of our students’ learning.”
The battlefields tour marked the first overseas residential of its kind for the History Department at the Academy and reflected its commitment to creating opportunities that enrich students’ learning. By experiencing these historical sites first-hand, students were able to develop a deeper appreciation of the First World War and its lasting impact on communities around the world.
