More than fifty year 11 students spent two days in London in November to deepen their understanding of some of the topics they study for their history GCSE. Highlights of their visit included a trip to watch the musical Cabaret in the West End and a guided tour at the Tower of London.
As well as being an unforgettable cultural experience, each element of the two-day visit offered stimulating new perspectives on topics the students are familiar with from classroom study.
Miss Kell says:
“The students had a fantastic time and have been speaking really positively about the trip ever since we returned to school. For lots of them it was their first visit to London, and they told me that they can’t wait to return and see more of the city and its attractions.
“The consensus was that the highlight of the visit was watching Cabaret. They really enjoyed seeing what they have learnt in history lessons in context, and it helped to give them a deeper understanding of the impact of the rise of the Nazis on the lives of ordinary people in Germany at the time.
“One student said that they hadn’t expected to enjoy the theatre but in fact loved every moment. Another student had such a good time that they are already planning to return to London to watch the production again, this time with family.
“The students also really enjoyed seeing the Armada Portrait up close [picture, above right]. Many were surprised by how big it is and how much detail is in the painting. They remembered the hidden messages and propaganda elements it contains and said that seeing the portrait really helped with revision by bringing their learning to life.
“Seeing it up close helped them to understand the impact it would have had on people at the time because of how impressive and captivating it is compared to other artwork of the time that they also looked at in the Queen’s House Gallery.
“I would like to thank the staff who supported on the trip – Mrs Bond, Miss Barham, Mr Worthington, Mrs Moran, Mrs Stanley and Mr Hamill. It would not have been possible to lead such a successful and enjoyable trip without their support and expertise.
“Year 10 history students have already heard about the trip and have asked if they can go too, so it looks like we will be back again next year. I can’t wait!”
You can see lots of great photos in Issue 45 (November/December 2025) of Ridgeway New Times. Just click the link below.
