History Department visit to Belgium: 14-15/04/11.

Mr B. Evans and Mr G. White of the History department took a group of 28 Year 9 and 10 Pupils on a visit to Ypres in Belgium, which was the site of 3 major battles involving the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

The pupils first visited the In Flanders Fields Museum in the Cloth Hall in the centre of Ypres, where they learned the story of Ypres during the First World War by following one person’s experiences of the town at that time. The pupils then visited the Hill 62 museum on the outskirts of Ypres. The museum houses a lot of artefacts and photographs of the First World War as well as an authentic trench system and tunnels which the pupils were able to explore.

The pupils then went to the Sanctuary Wood cemetery where they began to appreciate the number of men who lost their lives in the First World War. In the evening, we visited the Menin Gate war memorial, which lists the names of 55,000 allied soldiers who fought and died in the 3 Battles of Ypres, but whose remains were never found. Steven Rickwood and Charlotte Richards represented the school and laid a wreath during the moving last post ceremony.

On the second day, pupils visited Langemark German cemetery, which contained a mass grave of over 30,000 German soldiers. The pupils then visited Tyne Cott cemetery, which contained the graves of 12,000 allied soldiers and a memorial to 35,000 allied soldiers whose bodies’ were never found. Here, Daniel Smith and Georgia Jones laid a wreath before each pupil found a grave to place a cross next to. Many pupils found the graves of Welsh soldiers to place their crosses next to.

Finally, we visited Essex Farm cemetery, where we saw the grave of the war poet, John McCrae and the remains of the field hospital he worked in. We also saw the grave of a 15 year old boy who had lied about his age to join the army. He was the youngest soldier to be killed in the First World War.

On a lighter note, the pupils also had the chance to do some shopping in Ypres and many bought a wide selection of Belgian chocolates for their families, although we suspect most of them were eaten on the bus journey home!

Although this was a tiring two days, the pupils found it to be an extremely moving and thought provoking experience that I am sure will stay with them for ever.

Year 8 visit to Llancaiach Fawr Manor: 28/06/11.

Mr Evans and Miss Llewellyn of the History department took 44 Year 8 pupils back in time today to experience what life was like for the ordinary people of Wales in the 1640s during the Civil War.

The pupils were shown around the manor of Llancaiach Fawr by some of the servants. The pupils learned about how the Prtichard family lived, as well as finding out about the day to day lives of the servants who worked for them.

They also enjoyed a display by a barber surgeon who explained, with the use of some rather gruesome looking artefacts how he would operate upon and treat people who were injured during the battles of the Civil War. All of the pupils were very grateful for modern medicine after witnessing these ‘treatments!’

The pupils learned a great deal about life in the Civil War and had a lot of fun. Some will swear that they even glimpsed a ghost!

History & Performing Arts Department visit to The New Theatre, Cardiff to see Journey’s End: 19/10/11.

On Wednesday 19th October, 2011, Mr Evans and Mrs Jenkins took 48 Year 10 GCSE History and Drama pupils to The New Theatre in Cardiff to see a production of the play, Journey’s End. The play was a very moving account of one man’s experiences as a soldier fighting in the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the play and many found it extremely emotional. Journey’s End will help the GCSE History pupils who saw it with their controlled assessment on the Battle of the Somme while the GCSE Drama pupils will be able to critique the production for their coursework.

To find out more, follow this link: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/music-in-wales/2011/10/20/review-journey-s-end-at-new-theatre-cardiff-91466-29626287/

History Department Visit to the Imperial War Museum and the London Eye, London: 12/12/11.

Mr Evans and Mr Thomas of the History Department took 48 GCSE History pupils for a visit to London on Monday 12th December, 2011.

The pupils first visited the Imperial War Museum where they looked at the First and Second World War exhibitions, even visiting a system of front line trenches. The pupils then had the opportunity to visit other parts of the museum. Some were very moved by Holocaust exhibition. Other pupils were impressed by the array of planes, tanks, submarines and rockets on display.

The pupils were then taken for a ride on the London Eye and were able to see some of the famous landmarks of London, including Big Ben, St Pauls Cathedral and the Gherkin, as well as what will become the UK’s tallest building upon its completion, the Shard.

The pupils than had time to explore the Christmas markets on the South Bank before heading back to Wales and the rain!