SCHOOL TRIPS: Berlin
(Photographs by WILLIAM PARKES)
OUR Year 10 & Year 11 history students kicked off their Berlin trip with a fascinating walking tour of the city.
From exploring Berlin’s past as the capital of Prussia under Frederick the Great, to discovering the energy and political upheaval of Weimar Germany after WWI, the experience brought their classroom learning to life.
The tour also took in key sites from Nazi-era Berlin and the divided Cold War city, offering powerful insights into the events that shaped modern Europe.
During a meaningful and thought-provoking second day, students took in incredible panoramic views across the city skyline from the Reichstag Dome, then experienced the powerful modern art installation Asisi Panorama before heading to the Topography of Terror Museum, where they engaged thoughtfully with the exhibition, exploring the Nazi terror state and the extent of public awareness during that time.
They finished with the immersive Die Mauer Panorama — a powerful way to experience Berlin’s history - before joining a walking tour to see more of the city’s key historical sites and finishing with a well-earned meal at a lovely Italian restaurant.
Day three saw students exploring the Olympic Stadium and thinking about the significance of the 1936 Games, later visiting the Sachsenhausen concentration camp - which provided an important opportunity for learning and reflection - ending the day in the heart of West Berlin, where they spent time on the iconic Ku’damm.
During the morning of their final full day, students explored the fascinating underground world of Berlin Unterwelten, stepping inside bunkers used by Berliners during the intense bombing campaigns of the RAF and USAAF in the Second World War, and learning how these spaces evolved during the Cold War.
The contrasts of life in East Germany were brought to life through visits to the Stasi Prison Museum, highlighting the use of terror to maintain the communist dictatorship, and the DDR Museum, which showcased how the regime provided work and housing for East Germans.
They also took in breathtaking views from the Berlin TV Tower before rounding off the day with a glimpse into the city’s medieval past.
During their final hours in Berlin, students explored the Berlin Wall Memorial, gaining a powerful insight into how suddenly - and for how long - the wall changed life for Berliners. Although their visit to the German Resistance Memorial was interrupted by the Berlin Half Marathon, spirits stayed high!
On their way back to the airport, they passed Tempelhof Airport, famously used during the Berlin Airlift - a fitting final moment of reflection.
After an incredible ~100,000 steps walked, teachers couldn’t be prouder of how engaged, respectful, and brilliant the students were throughout the trip.
Ripon Grammar School, 16 Clotherholme Road, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 2DG
Tel: 01765 602 647
E: admin@ripongrammar.com
