News

A lasting legacy to the First World War

The First World War Centenary Battlefields Tours continue this year, with thousands of students having already taken part. Emma Lee-Potter updates us on the government-funded initiative

Pupils and teachers from 1,200 schools have taken part in the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours programme so far. They have visited key battlefield sites on the Western Front, walked through trenches, crossed No Man’s Land, fallen silent at the sight of the thousands of graves, and had the chance to handle a host of original artefacts, from pieces of shrapnel to the bulky wool serge great coats worn by soldiers in the 1914 to 18 war.

The aim of the government-funded programme is to enable teenagers to develop a deeper understanding of the First World War, its scale and the millions of lives lost. The scheme will run until the spring of 2019, enabling two pupils and one teacher from 4,000 secondary schools in England to visit the battlefields of northern France and Belgium.

Register now, read forever

Thank you for visiting SecEd and reading some of our content for professionals in secondary education. Register now for free to get unlimited access to all content.

What's included:

  • Unlimited access to news, best practice articles and podcast

  • New content and e-bulletins delivered straight to your inbox every Monday and Thursday

Register

Already have an account? Sign in here