At the end of the Autumn term a group of 68 Year 10 students had the wonderful opportunity to explore the city of Berlin. During the visit, students demonstrated impeccable behaviour and engagement at all times. They gained a deeper understanding and enthusiasm for the city itself as well as its significance for their GCSE studies.
After a long journey from Prince Henry’s to Dover, across to Calais and then onto Germany, we arrived on the outskirts of Berlin in the early morning. Students then enjoyed some well-deserved down time at Tropical Islands, Europe’s largest indoor water park which is housed within a Soviet-era Zeppelin hangar. This provided a fun and relaxing start to the trip before our exploration of different aspects of Berlin’s history, culture and society began the next day.
We then began our first full day in Berlin with visits to the British Cemetery and the Olympic Stadium where students learned about the historic 1936 Olympic Games for which it was constructed. In central Berlin students explored Checkpoint Charlie, the iconic border crossing between the former East and West Berlin. Students then visited the Resistance Memorial Centre and were inspired by stories of those who showed the most commendable bravery in resisting the Nazi regime. The day concluded with some exploration of Berlin’s culture including a visit to the Ampelmann shop, a classic and beloved symbol of Berlin. Students also visited the famous Ritter Sport chocolate shop and then ended the day with a visit to the Berlin TV tower for panoramic views of the city.
The next day students continued to look at what life was like in Soviet controlled East Germany with visits to the museum at the former Stasi Prison and then the interactive DDR museum. We also visited the Jewish Museum where students deepened their understanding of Germany’s divided past and the impact of the Holocaust. The day ended with a walk along the iconic Unter der Linden boulevard and then time at the Brandenburg Gate before students ended their day competitively with a game of bowling.
A particularly powerful and reflective part of the trip was our visit to Sachsenhausen, the site of a former Nazi concentration camp. Time was given for quiet reflection, allowing students to consider the human impact of the site and the importance of remembrance. In the afternoon students visited and had free time exploring the historic German city of Potsdam and we ended the day with a currywurst in a traditional German setting at the Wirtshaus Moorlake.
Our final day in Berlin consisted of a walking tour of the city. The highlights of the tour were the Holocaust Memorial and the Topography of Terror in the centre of the city as well as the iconic dome of the Reichstag building, where students learned about the symbol of German democracy and its role in the Nazi era. The day concluded with some final shopping in the impressive Mall of Berlin before we started the journey home.
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