Our recent history trip to the battlefields of Belgium and France for Year 9 students was an unforgettable and deeply moving experience that brought history to life in a way textbooks never could. A blend of education, reflection, and a powerful connection to the past, especially as we explored some of the key sites of World War I.

We visited many sites, including the Passchendaele museum, the Tyne Cot cemetery, Langemark cemetery, and Lijssentheok in Belgium, finishing with a wonderful meal at a local restaurant and a visit to Menin Gate Memorial for the Last Post Ceremony. The daily event, where buglers play “The Last Post” in memory of the soldiers who died in the area. In France, the Somme region, Vimy Ridge Memorial, Lochnagar Crater and Beaumont-Hamel and Newfoundland Memorial Park helped students to vividly understand the brutal nature of trench warfare.

For anyone considering a school trip: It’s not just a lesson in history—it’s a lesson in humanity.