Ely Cathedral – Medieval Day. Students in Year 7 have the opportunity to interact with characters from different levels of medieval society at Ely Cathedral. The group of actors from ‘Hands on the Past’ take on a variety of roles, such as soldiers training new recruits, musicians preparing for an autumn fair, monks instructing people in their letters and a townsman informing of new fashions. The day builds on learning of medieval life from their History lessons. They will gain a valuable insight into Ely at this time as all activities relate directly to the city in 1392. The emphasis is on fun!

Oliver Cromwell’s House - Students in Year 8 have the opportunity to be guided around Oliver Cromwell’s House in Ely and learn about his life and impact on the English Civil War. In their lessons, students study how Oliver Cromwell has been remembered in History and this visit will allow pupils to see how Oliver Cromwell has been remembered in his home region of the Fens.

Battlefields – For four years, the History department has been running a successful three-day residential trip to the Battlefields of Northern France and Belgium. It enhances their knowledge and understanding of the First World War topic they study in class. Students visit reconstructed trenches, memorials and cemeteries on the trip.

St Dunstan’s – A charity that supports blind ex-servicemen and women come in to College to talk to Year 9 students about the conflicts of the twentieth century. As well as their own experiences of sight loss, the St Dunstaners discuss the history of the charity and the work it has done throughout the twentieth century. All speakers the College have hosted have been inspirational.

Holocaust Survivor – The London Jewish Cultural Centre run a national programme that schools can ask to be part of. As part of the programme, Holocaust survivors go into Colleges to discuss their experiences and the impact the Holocaust has had on themselves and their families. This presentation is given to students in Year 9 who have opted to take GCSE History.

Hitler on Trial – An excellent revision day for Year 11 students! The first workshop is designed to help students improve their performance in the GCSE examination. They mark a set of examination papers that they receive on the day. By doing so, they discover the thinking behind the exam and find out how to make the most of their knowledge, skills and understanding. There is also a mock trial in which Adolf Hitler is charged with responsibility for starting the Second World War. Counsels for the prosecution and defence will question witnesses and Adolf Hitler himself. At the end, students vote to decide whether Hitler is guilty. The students that have participated have found it extremely useful preparation for the exams.

Berlin – The department has run three successful trips to Berlin for GCSE History students. The aim is to enhance students’ knowledge and understanding of the examination unit on Germany 1919-45.It is a four day residential guided History tour of Berlin. The outline itinerary has changed over time, but has included visits to former west Berlin including Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag; Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp; the 1936 Olympic Stadium (and venue for the 2006 World Cup Final); and sites in the former East Berlin.

Auschwitz – The Holocaust Educational Trust invites two students from every sixth form in the country to participate in the ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’ project. For the last three years, two sixth formers have represented the College on the project. They have spent a day in London furthering their knowledge of the Holocaust. They have then visited Auschwitz and fed this back to students at the College to highlight the impact of this event.