Trust Comes Together to Remember

By Sam Kail-Dyke – Wessex Learning Trust

On Thursday 11^th November, learners and staff across our schools stopped what they were doing for a moment of quiet reflection to remember all those who have given their lives in conflict. Schools organised a number of events to give children time to reflect, as well as learn about the history of remembrance and the sacrifices our forebears made.

At Hugh Sexey Middle School, learners discussed the meaning of remembrance and took part in the outreach work provided by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The work saw each tutor group learning about how nations other than Britain remember the sacrifices of those who died in war, and examining the other days and symbols used by nations when they come together to remember. This culminated in each tutor group producing a wreath which was displayed on their tutor room door (pictured) and highlighted what they had learned while also symbolising remembrance as a door to our past, present, and future.

Axbridge First School children spent time recognising the importance of respecting and honouring the sacrifice others have made for their future through activities in class, and in a whole school remembrance service. As part of this, Year 4 learner Oscar gave an exceptional and moving rendition of the Last Post on his Trumpet before the school took part in a traditional silence.

Elsewhere, our schools could all be seen with beautiful displays of poppies – for instance made out of plastic bottles at East Brent – and moving tributes to those who have died – for instance at Lympsham where every learner laid a poppy in remembrance of the fallen.

At Kings of Wessex, the school invited representatives from all of the Trust schools to join them for a short memorial service at the front of the school. Here, Reverends Burns and Motion led the assembled staff and learners in prayer and reflection before Year 13 learner, Joe, sounded the Last Post on the Trumpet and a two-minute silence was held. Following this, wreaths were laid by representatives of each school in the Trust, as well as the four house groups at Kings.

Chief Executive of the Trust, Gavin Ball, commented:

“It has been an honour to share the commemorations with representatives of all our schools as we join to remember all those who have fallen in conflict. Our learners have demonstrated a great deal of maturity and an incredible understanding of why we do what we do which has been incredibly humbling to see”.

Chief Executive, Gavin Ball

The Trust is incredibly proud of how all its learners engaged in this delicate and important topic, and the respect they showed for the occasion. After commemorations were somewhat stifled last year by COVID, it’s great to be able to share this important day with everyone in a much more normal way.