On Thursday 10 November, our Year 12 history pupils embarked on a day-trip to London as part of their module on the British Empire. On a day where the travelling group faced many obstacles, including train and tube strikes, everyone involved nonetheless showed great engagement and did not let external factors affect their day.
The following is a write-up of the trip by Head of History, Mr Joseph Player:
"First, we travelled to the fantastic British Museum. There, the pupils explored the museum’s vaults and treasures to examine different artefacts that were obtained during the British Empire. It was really interesting for them to see first-hand some of the exotic and fascinating objects that were collected during this period, ranging from imperious West African masks, intricately carved ancestral screens, and the wonderfully impressive Benin Bronzes. It was insightful for students to learn more about the varied, complex and controversial journeys that these extraordinary collections have been on.
After lunch, we then went to the Imperial War Museum. Students moved through the different exhibitions on various conflicts during the modern era, keeping a particular eye out for reference to the role of the British Empire. Students saw a host of interesting items, from the ochre-brown uniforms of Indian Sepoys who fought the Ottoman Empire, formidable rifles that represented the sacrifice of Australian soldiers who battled on the Western Front, and a string of colourful posters that celebrated the role of the Commonwealth.
Thank you to the fantastic Year 12 pupils, who showed good spirit and engagement throughout."
