Pupils and staff across CMAT’s schools paid their respects to the fallen during special services and assemblies to mark Remembrance Day.
Year 6 pupils at Lantern Community Primary School, near Ely, created a beautiful poppy garden. The whole school came together online for assembly to talk about and remember the importance of the day.
At Stratton Upper School, valuable additions were made to the ‘Biggleswade Remembrance Trail’. This trail was first set up by the school on the centenary of the Armistice in 2018.
Thirty plaques were made by the school to commemorate some of the servicemen from the town who lost their lives during the First World War.
History teacher Ian Macwhinnie said: “The premise of this initiative is that the plaques were put up outside of the former addresses in which the named serviceman once lived to make modern acts of remembrance much more relatable for our younger generations.
“Forming links with streets and houses that students would have walked past hundreds of times really has encouraged our students to think more closely about the sacrifices made by those who gave their today for our tomorrow.”
The school recently launched a new house system, with the name Tom Adlam chosen as one of the names. Tom was one of only 627 Victoria Cross winners during the First World. Tom served in the 7th Bedfordshire Regiment and lived close to Biggleswade after the war.
At Stamford Welland Academy, students took part in a house art competition. This resulted in a superb array of art which had the central theme of what Remembrance Day meant to students. At the end of the day, over 70 CCF cadets attended ‘The Blessing of the Standard.’ The CCF Standard was kindly donated by the Mayor’s Office in 2019 but due to the impacts of Covid-19 this was the first opportunity for it to be blessed.
Lincroft Academy, near Bedford, held a virtual service which the students and staff were able to watch online. Year 11 student Jason Gatarabirwa played the Last Post on the baritone horn to round off a 15 minute online presentation that included words from Principal Andrew Hencken and poems read out by school students. These poems included Rupert Brooke’s The Soldier and Laurence Binyon’s For the Fallen.
Swavesey Village College, near Cambridge, also held an online live stream for the whole school, which included a reading of the poem ‘There will be Peace’ by David Roberts, performances from the Swavesey Ensemble and school choir, and a personal account of remembrance from Mr Fahey.
At Greater Peterborough UTC, students used their technology talents to create small signs tributed to the Royal British Legion. The two minutes’ silence was marked with students gathered around a poppy garden in the school grounds.
Three students from Northstowe Secondary Academy’s army cadet group laid a wreath made of pom-poms created to look like poppies. Rev Dr Beth Cope from Pathfinder Church attended the school to give a speech about the importance of the day.
Oakley Primary Academy marked the day of remembrance with their pupils’ artistic talents, including poppy collages, and some collaborative, creative poppy art using items found on the playground, such as cones and autumn leaves.
At Downham Feoffees Primary Academy, near Ely, the school’s two Heads of Pupil Voice read the famous poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae.
Assistant Principal Julia Stead said: “It was very moving to see such respect and consideration shown by all our children. We were pleased to be joined by our Chair of Academy Council, Mark Hollington, for the event.
“Children who are part of the Scouting and Guiding Movement came to school dressed in their Rainbow, Brownie, Beaver and Cub uniforms, looking very smart in honour of the significant day. In Year 6, the children could align their new knowledge gained during their World War Two topic with Remembrance Day, making it even more meaningful.”
Nene Park Academy held a whole school remembrance service. Students and staff assembled outside and the large CCF contingent began the service by marching in. The unit commander handed over to Mr Grover who welcomed everyone and explained the importance of the event. The service featured readings from student leaders and Mr Grover who read Flanders Fields, a poem recently studied by Year 8 in English.
Mrs Chambers, one of the academy’s English teachers, played the last post and reveille on her cornet to bookend the 2 minutes silence. Finally, student representatives from each of the six houses laid poppy wreaths while the names of former students who lost their lives in the war were read out.
We thank our schools for all the effort and dedication they have put in to remember those that sacrificed their lives for the generations ahead of them.