Year 10 students spent a fascinating and emotional four days visiting the battlefields and memorials of the First World War in Belgium and France.

Forty- eight Year 10 students and four members of staff spent a fascinating and emotional four days visiting the battlefields and memorials of the First World War in Belgium and France.

The visit was organised to support the GCSE coursework on the First World War and highlights of the visit included the Last Post ceremony, a trip to Sanctuary Wood to experience life in the trenches (and a very interesting lecture from two old Tommies!) and the traditional stop at a Belgian chocolate shop. The Macmillan Academy wreath was laid at Tyne Cot cemetery in an emotional ceremony. Tyne Cot is the largest commonwealth war graves cemetery in the world and contains 12000 graves as well as a memorial to 35000 soldiers who have no known grave.

For some students the visit had extra special poignancy and relevance as they were able to visit the graves of their relatives and to pay their respects. This included the grave of a pilot in the newly formed RAF whose plane was shot down in France.