The main curriculum areas are History, Citizenship and Religious Education where students

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1 Firstly, I would like to introduce myself. My name is Carol Rushton and I am married with two sons. We live in Hereford, a picturesque Cathedral City on the border between England and Wales. I teach French and German at The Bishop of Hereford s Bluecoat School, which is a comprehensive church aided school with 1,200 students aged In 1989 I took up the post of Head of Modern Languages. I am now Assistant Headteacher with a special focus on staff training and welfare. I still enjoy teaching French and German. Remembrance, loss and sacrifice are taught and explored through many curriculum areas, through form period and assemblies, through enrichment days and extra curricular activities. The main curriculum areas are History, Citizenship and Religious Education where students Recognise past and current international events that have resulted in death, loss and sacrifice Discuss how we remember those who have given their lives in service to their country Discuss and debate who should be remembered and the importance of giving remembrance Appreciate how the loss of loved ones impacts on friends, families and colleagues Explore both sides of the story when studying the reasons why wars took place and post war impact and implications Understand their role in working towards peace, understanding and reconciliation Students are encouraged to research and write about experiences of war. When students begin to study German, time is spent exploring the history and culture of the country with a special focus on how Germany was divided and then reunited. Students can further enhance their knowledge by partaking in exchange visits with the Wilhelm Löhe Schule in Nurnberg (this exchange began in 1989) and Niederorschel in the former East of Germany (this exchange began in 1997). Students carry out project work and have the opportunity to understand more about the two world wars and repercussions. In Nürnberg, for example, they visit the rally grounds and the excellent education centre and in Niederorschel, they visit the Borderland Museum, as Niederorschel is about 5km away from the former East/West crossing point. Another excellent extra-curricular opportunity is for students to partake in an annual visit to the Battlefields. They visit memorials and not only English but also German graveyards so that they gain new perspective on loss of lives for countries at war. On the last evening, they visit Menin Gate at Ypres and hear the Last Post. They then return to their youth centre in order to produce reflections, poetry and role plays relating to war. They do this with compassion and understanding two of the most important words in both of our languages.

2 During the academic year, the timetable is suspended on a number of occasions for enrichment activities. Year nine students (13-14 years old) are able to learn more about the Holocaust. An outside speaker is included. Recently, a gentleman came to speak to the students who lived in Vienna as a child in a fine apartment with his parents. One night, his father told him that they had to leave and he could just take his teddy bear with him. He remembers the long journey to Paris where he lived for eight months, not understanding the French language and feeling very confused. He relates how he then moved to England with his family all very secret, and how he was educated here. His first visit back to his parents apartment and the beautiful Vienna he had to leave in the 1930s was two years ago. Our students and staff were very moved by the story of this unassuming gentleman, who arrived from London by train, with just a small suitcase with his overnight clothing and items of interest for students, such as his first school report before he left Austria no need for powerpoints or glossy brochures just a man with his history. The displays, poems and reflections produced by students after this enrichment day were fantastic. World Peace Day in September is also important with contributions from many areas of the curriculum to include Art and Music. A highlight is the Peace Tree to which students attach messages to encourage hope and love between nations and to acknowledge lives lost through war. Assemblies around Remembrance Day (November 11) are also a significant part of the academic year. Armistice Day originally celebrated the end of the First World War in Over time, it has come to be used as a day to commemorate the victims of that and all subsequent wars. Students are encouraged to Reflect on war Understand that war is painful and harrowing rather than exciting and dramatic Consider the consequences of war in terms of lives unfulfilled. Remembrance is the chance for all nations to pay respect to the people who have been killed in warfare whenever and wherever that was, whatever government or leader sent them to their deaths. It is also an opportunity to think about the people whose lives have been crippled by war, wherever they may be in the world. Perhaps most important of all, this is an opportunity to understand the devastating impact that intolerance, bigotry, arrogance and violence can have on us as individuals, communities and as countries. This awareness must begin early in all schools and all nations, with schools carrying out project work and sharing both lesson plans and resources. The Bishop of Hereford s Bluecoat School has already begun work on this with The Wilhelm Löhe Schule in Nürnberg. Nations working together to promote peace, hope and understanding. Thank you and God bless our schools, young people and our countries. Carol Rushton

3 To Germany You are blind like us. Your hurt no man designed, And no man claimed the conquest of your land. But gropers both through fields of thought confined We stumble and we do not understand. You only saw your future bigly planned, And we, the tapering paths of our own mind, And in each other s dearest ways we stand, And hiss and hate. And the blind fight the blind. When it is peace, then we may view again With new-won eyes each other s truer form And wonder. Grown more loving-kind and warm We ll grasp firm hands and laugh at the old pain, When it is peace. But until peace, the storm The darkness and the thunder and the rain. Charles Hamilton Sorley

4 Vater Unser Vater unser im Himmel, geheiligt werde dein Name; dein Reich komme; dein Wille geschehe, wie im Himmel so auf Erden. Unser tägliches Brot gib uns heute. Und vergib uns unsere Schuld, wie auch wir vergeben unsern Schuldigern; und führe uns nicht in Versuchung, sondern erlöse uns von dem Bösen. Denn dein ist das Reich und die Kraft und die Herrlichkeit in Ewigkeit. Amen. The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen

5 Pupils spiritual, moral, social and cultural development Pupils think deeply about their own and others experiences and try to relate them to a clear set of personal values. They have a keen interest in ethical issues, act in a principled manner and understand the importance of reassessing values in the light of experience. The Evaluation Schedule for Schools

6 Outreach Work in Bavaria Mr Og Owen (Head of Humanities) and Mr Tristram Jenkins (School Governor) visited our partner school in Nürnberg to explore teaching methodologies and collaborative planning relating to the histories of Great Britain and Germany. The next phase is for Carol Rushton and Tristram Jenkins to attend a Church Conference on Remembrance in May. Carol Rushton will prepare a short speech on how Remembrance is taught and will bring a display of poetry, photographs and reflection produced during the Battlefields visit in March This will be the 25 th visit that Mr Owen has organised. How is that for dedication? Further collaborative work will continue on lesson plans and schemes of work in both languages for both schools.