Our Sixth Form History and Sociology students had the opportunity to travel to Krakow in Poland – with a focus on studying the Holocaust – and Berlin in Germany – with a focus on Hitler’s rise to power and the main city sites.
The trip started in Krakow and included a visit to the Galicia Jewish Museum, a guided tour of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, and a Schindler’s walking tour. Students also had free time to explore the city on foot.
After a coach drive to Berlin, there was a guided tour of Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp and sight-seeing at a wide range of locations including the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, the Brandenburg Gate, and a tour of the Reichstag roof and Glass Dome. Furthermore, there was a visit to the DDR museum, the Berliner and there were free time breaks for dining and shopping.
The field trip applies to both the A-Level History and Sociology courses, but also dovetails with our nationally-recognised Holocaust Beacon School Status. We have further opportunities for students to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau in partnership with the Holocaust Memorial Trust later in the school year.
Connor Perry, History teacher and trip organiser, said: “We were all delighted with the trip and the students got a great deal from it – not just for their courses, but also for their perception of the world around them. The visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in particular was an emotional experience and it was supported by the museum visits which contextualised the wider progression of the Holocaust.”
