The humanities team have had a busy and productive 2011-12. In addition to raising standards of attainment, and teaching and learning across the subject area, teachers have worked hard to provide enrichment activities for students across the year groups. Humanities students have really risen to the challenge with enthusiasm and energy, producing some amazing results.

The first notable event of the year was Remembrance Day, when Wolverley CE Secondary School community managed to raise well over £200 for the Poppy Appeal. The Remembrance Service held on November 10 was emotional for staff, students and visiting veterans. The veterans, Larry Billingsley, president of the Kidderminster branch of the Royal British Legion, the secretary, Peter Dunn, and Ted ‘Chalkie’ White, regimental association bugler, were moved by the service and the numbers of students and staff who attended.

Kathryn Craik (year nine), Ben Stanley, Ben Davis and Natasha Cwietkow (all year 11) helped Mr Rose organise the service. Mr Rose said: “Students have researched the details of the ex-Wolverley Grammar students who died in battle in the Ypres and Somme regions and so the service is always extremely relevant to the immediate local community and to our school.” Next year Mr Rose aims to raise even more money for the Poppy Appeal.

Year 11 geography students took advantage of warm weather at the end of September and enjoyed two days of coastal studies on the south coast at Swanage and Portland. The group were staying on the Isle of Portland overlooking the site where the sailing and windsurfing events for the Olympics took place. The purpose of the trip was to gather information for their controlled assessment that goes towards their geography GCSE. The first day was spent gathering information about the human environment in Swanage – interviewing locals and tourists, and completing land use surveys. The second day saw us return to Swanage to collect physical geographical evidence from the area.

The Discover History Team visited Wolverley in November, delivering a two hour workshop on Roman life to all students in year seven, to help them understand what life was like in Roman Britain, ranging from the clothes citizens wore to how they fought in the Roman army. Shaun Bryant and Philippa Howles played their part by dressing up as Romans.

History teacher, Mr Connolly, said: “A hands on approach to learning about history is always a popular and memorable way to learn.”

One of the most emotional events of 2011-12 was the visit by two A level history students to Auschwitz, in Poland, on March 21. Jack Barber and Conor Patrick took part in a programme organised by the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ (LFA) Project.

More than just a visit to Poland, the course is a journey of learning and exploration – about the history of the Holocaust and about the world we live in.

Jack asked himself the question: “If something like that happens again, would we fight? Or would we let it happen and claim the lives of so many more?” His feelings of horror and revulsion stayed with him even after he returned home. “This was the most horrific experience I have ever witnessed, and probably ever will, but it was a valuable insight into my own life. I strongly feel that everyone should visit this terrible place; we all need to see for ourselves just what happened. We should all be a part of preventing this – and anything like it – ever happening again”.

In the past half term alone the humanities team has run visits to Warwick Castle, Blist Hill, RAF Cosford Museum, and most notably, a four day residential trip to Berlin. Mr Connolly, Miss New and Mr Rose took 36 students to the German capital to help with the study of Weimar and Nazi Germany, and the Cold War. Highlights of the trip included a guided tour of the German Reichstag (Parliament) and Sachsanhausen concentration camp. Other highlights included a visit to the award-winning Jewish Museum, Check Point Charlie, a river boat cruise along the River Spree, and an evening meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. But the most memorable event was the tour of Sachsanhausen Concentration Camp, a stark reminder of the Holocaust.

Sian Davies expressed her feelings: “The concentration camp made me feel sad and angry as the Nazis killed people and made their lives horrible just because of their religion, what they believed in or if they looked or acted differently.”

Students will use the experiences they gained on the trip to help them with their GCSE studies. The history department is already planning the next international trip, designed to help students engage with their GCSE studies.

  • Taken from Wolverley Whispers school magazine