On Monday 9 February, our Year 9 pupils enjoyed a cross‑curricular History, Maths and Computing trip to the world‑famous Bletchley Park. Formerly the top‑secret hub of Britain’s wartime codebreakers, Bletchley Park is now a vibrant heritage attraction in Milton Keynes.
It proved to be a fantastic day out and a rare opportunity for students to experience first-hand one of the most iconic sites of the Second World War — the birthplace of modern computing and the centre of Britain’s codebreaking efforts.
Students began the day with an energetic guided tour of the grounds, taking in the historic mansion, wartime huts and the many stories behind the secretive work carried out on the site. They also took part in a dedicated codebreaking workshop, where they explored real encryption techniques and learned how messages were intercepted, decoded and used to support the Allied war effort.
The visit offered a powerful insight into the extraordinary achievements of the codebreakers of Bletchley Park — including Alan Turing — whose work helped to shorten the war and laid the foundations for the electronic computer. Pupils also had time to explore the museum independently, discovering artefacts, stories and interactive exhibits that brought the era to life.
Polina Brown reflected on the trip:
“Once we arrived, my group took part in a codebreaking masterclass. We were shown the German Enigma machine, which was used in the Second World War to encrypt and decrypt messages, and were given Morse code messages to try and crack. After that, we explored the museum and the smaller huts where codebreakers like Alan Turing worked for hours every day. After lunch, we went on a tour and learned about many new things, like the brave women who rode motorcycles through blackout conditions to deliver codes from radio stations. I think we all learned something new about the amazing codebreakers at Bletchley Park.”
Louis Ball added:
“My favourite part of the trip was the tour, when our guide took us to the mansion, the huts and the garage. It was really cool because he told us all about his knowledge and the secrecy you had to agree to when working at Bletchley Park — you couldn’t tell anyone what you did. Overall, I think this was a great trip and I would definitely recommend it.”
Throughout the trip, Year 9 represented the College brilliantly, showing curiosity, enthusiasm and excellent behaviour. A huge thank you to Mr Bosomworth for organising such an enriching and memorable visit.
