History Model Competition Showcases Outstanding Creativity

This year’s History Model Competition has been one of the most impressive yet, with students showcasing exceptional creativity, craftsmanship, and historical knowledge through a stunning array of entries.

Among the highlights were a detailed model of the Colosseum of Rome, a carefully crafted Viking treasure hoard, a realistic WW1 trench diorama, and a beautifully stitched replica section of the Bayeux Tapestry. Each entry demonstrated a deep engagement with the past and a real flair for bringing history to life.

The overall winner was a truly outstanding Warwick Castle tapestry, which demonstrated  remarkable artistic skill. Congratulations to all who entered; your hard work and enthusiasm for history have truly impressed the judging panel and inspired your peers.

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

Year 10 Historians Explore 19th Century Industrial Britain at Saltaire

On Tuesday 1st July, Year 10 historians from Penwortham Girls’ High School visited the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire as part of their studies into 19th century industrialisation. The purpose of the trip was to investigate the environmental, social and moral challenges of the Industrial Revolution and to explore how reformers like Sir Titus Salt attempted to improve public health and living conditions for working people.

The day began at Hoyle Court, where students took part in an engaging and collaborative workshop focused on public health problems in 19th century Britain. Working with primary evidence, students explored the realities of urban life during the Industrial Revolution, identifying key issues such as poor sanitation, overcrowding, and pollution. Their enthusiasm and maturity were evident throughout, as they worked with purpose to piece together the story of Bradford’s industrial past.

The staff at Hoyle Court provided a warm welcome and ensured the event ran smoothly, offering excellent hospitality and creating a supportive learning environment. After an impressive buffet lunch, the group made the short journey to Saltaire to explore Sir Titus Salt’s model town.

While walking through the beautifully preserved streets of Saltaire, students saw firsthand the innovations Salt introduced to improve public health, such as spacious housing, access to clean water, and facilities like schools and a hospital. It was a valuable opportunity to contrast the reality of industrial cities with Salt’s vision for a healthier and more moral society.

The visit was a rewarding and thought provoking experience closely linked to the GCSE specification. Students returned with a deeper understanding of both the problems and the progress of 19th century Britain knowledge that will enrich their GCSE studies and their appreciation of how the past continues to shape our world today.

Mr Herbert, Curriculum Leader for History

Year 8 Historians Explore the First World War

Our Year 8 History students have recently begun studying a new topic on the First World War, examining why it was fought, how it developed, and why it had such a lasting impact on the world.

Students have been learning about the significance of 28 June 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary was assassinated — an event that triggered the start of the conflict.

To help deepen their understanding of the global conflict, we encourage students to explore the following excellent online resources:

  • The Guardian’s Interactive Documentary – A global guide to the First World War, including maps, videos and personal stories from around the world. Access it here
  • BBC World War One Centenary Website – A rich collection of short films, articles and features that bring the key events and experiences of the war to life. Visit it here

Students are also encouraged to use A Street Near You — an incredible resource which allows you to find individuals from your local area who served in the First World War. Simply enter your postcode or street name to discover real stories of soldiers from your community. Explore it here.

If you have any family stories or artefacts at home connected to the First World War, we would love to hear them – please let your History teacher know!

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History

Supporting GCSE Historians: Our First Visit to Saltaire

On the 1st July, the History Department has organised its first visit to Saltaire, near Bradford, to support Year 10 students studying the Eduqas GCSE History course, specifically the Health and Medicine in Britain thematic study.

Saltaire is a model village built in the 1850s by Sir Titus Salt, a wealthy industrialist. It provides an excellent real life case study of 19th century public health improvements, linking directly to the section of the course that covers the challenges of industrialisation and the response to poor living conditions. Rather than reading about public health reforms in abstract terms, students will be able to see first-hand how an industrial employer tackled the problems of overcrowding, poor sanitation, and disease.

The visit has been designed to strengthen students’ understanding of key topics such as:

  • The living conditions in industrial towns.
  • The impact of reformers and philanthropists in improving public health.
  • How attitudes towards public health shifted during the 19th century.

Walking through Saltaire, students will examine the workers’ housing, the wash-houses, the school, and Salt’s Mill itself. These examples will help them to link specific features of the village to the wider social and legislative changes they are studying, including the 1848 and 1875 Public Health Acts.

We are looking forward to seeing the impact of this trip on students’ confidence and progress as they move through their GCSE course.

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History

VE Day

On Thursday 8th May, we marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with form time reflections and remembrance. Students were also treated to a special VE Day themed lunch.

VE Day stands for Victory in Europe Day. It marks the day World War II ended in Europe – 8th May 1945. On that day, people across Britain and other countries celebrated because the fighting in Europe was finally over. This year is the 80th anniversary of VE Day; a time to remember the people who fought, worked and lived through the war, and to honour their bravery and sacrifice.

We were so proud to see our students in the cadet forces wearing their uniforms with pride as we honoured those who served and sacrificed.

VE Day: Celebrations across London for 80 year anniversary – BBC Newsround

VE Day 80: Women’s roles in World War Two – BBC Newsround

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher

Rome and Naples Visit

On Thursday 13th March, Mrs Woodhouse, Mrs Snowdon, Miss Buckle, Miss Garlick and I set off on a 5-night trip to Rome and the Bay of Naples with 39 students drawn from Years 8 and 9. It was an amazing trip that everyone really enjoyed. The girls have written about the trip and we’ve included lots of photos from the visit too – Mr Ramsdale, Senior Assistant Headteacher.

Rome

The Trevi Fountain was truly a sight to behold; its large size was quite impressive and the several statues adorning it were impressively intricate. We saw the monument at night, in the still busy but darker surroundings of Rome, and were allowed to go and indulge in the nearby ice cream shops and other tourist/souvenir shops. At night, I think that it was even more impressive, as the lights illuminating it, added more depth in the lit areas and contrasting shadows. It was sort of surreal to be walking by and standing in front of such a well-known tourist attraction and was overall, a beautiful experience. Heidi

I really enjoyed my time in Rome. The Trevi Fountain was absolutely brilliant! I got so many good pictures with my friends there and overall, it was just beautiful. Rome was very interesting in general, and I’d love to go again and see all the historical buildings. Catherine

We visited St Peter’s Basilica. Inside, laid a glorious building built by Roman Christians. Saint Peter the Apostle was one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ. He was also the first Pope. The Basilica is an amazing church in the Vatican City. It’s also known as the biggest church. Inside the Basilica you can also see a few covered bodies of the past great Popes. Each group had a tour guide who showed us through the amazing building.  Zahraa

The food was great in Rome! We had pizza, gelatos and many other treats. On one of the mornings in the hotel, some of us had a take-away breakfast. We had pizza at lunch one day, and it was delicious! To drink, I had a Fanta, and it tasted even better than back here at home. I also had some gelato – mango flavour. We also went to a very fancy McDonalds that was there! For tea at Rome, we had even more pizza and some chips. Another night we had delicious lasagna. Ruby

On the third day in Rome, we went to the Colosseum. I think this was the best part of the trip because of all the information we found out about it. The Colosseum was once used to host fights to entertain the public. These fights were between people, slaves or even a mix of both. We learned that the space had a capacity for 65,000 spectators at a time and it was one of the main ways of entertainment at the time. It was a spectacular sight and I believe everyone should try to visit it. Lowri

The Colosseum is an iconic symbol of Rome and stepping inside feels surreal. You can almost hear the cheers of the crowds from ancient times. The architecture is fascinating, with its massive arches and intricate details. Then, when you head to Palatine Hill, it’s like walking through history. It’s one of the oldest parts of the city and offers stunning views over the Forum and the Circus Maximus. The ruins of the imperial palaces are impressive and you can really immerse in the atmosphere of what life was like back then. It’s a perfect spot to capture the essence of Ancient Rome. It was an unforgettable experience! Deeya

On our first night in Rome, we were given homemade Margherita pizzas with a side of chips and water. I can’t even begin how to describe how delicious they were. It was stringy as you picked it up but not soggy, telling us it was freshly made. On the Friday, we ate lasagna with a side of potatoes and either a bowl of fruit or a slice of cake. The lasagna looked warm and creamy, the potatoes were glazed in an oil and the fruit bowl was filled with oranges, pineapple, grapes and more. The cake was soft and moist. Out of the two dinners we had in Rome, I preferred the pizza and chips because in my opinion it looked more appealing then the lasagna but still a good meal. Jennifer

Bay of Naples

The island of Capri was beautiful, from the little shops to the outstanding views. We learnt a lot about the history of Italy from our tour guide and enjoyed some Italian gelato on the dock. It was a beautiful island and it was incredible to see in person after seeing all the pictures online. Sadie

The island of Capri was a wonderful experience. The weather was absolutely amazing and the views were breathtaking. The story of the red chilli pepper was something to make everyone laugh and it was overall such a fun a great experience. The island was full of lemons. The people were amazing! Zainab

When we got off the boat at Capri, we walked up the dock and into a little cafe. After that, we got on mini buses where our tour guide took us up a path lined with small shops and to a lovely viewpoint looking over the entire island. After that, we explored a little more, before going to find lunch. We then got back on to the mini buses and onto the boat. Elizabeth

Mount Vesuvius was a great experience and I thought I wouldn’t ever climb a mountain but I did it! The start of the walk was hard and my legs were hurting but once we got to the top, it was beautiful and the view was amazing. I enjoyed it a lot and hope to get to experience something like this again. Ayesha

I really enjoyed my visit to Pompeii. It really opened my eyes as to how life would have been during and after the volcanic eruption which destroyed the city and killed hundreds of people within seconds. The bodies preserved made me reflect on life nowadays and how advanced technology is. I feel fortunate to be living on a small island, free of any volcanoes. The remains in Pompeii were just spectacular which were entire buildings uncovered from piles of ash which enveloped the town. The city of Pompeii is really unique and I really enjoyed my visit here. Micah

The hotels were both in beautiful spots and the first was extremely spacious with so many vast areas to explore and provide everything you needed. The second hotel was so close to the water which had lovely views and it also had a really nice lobby area to wait around in. Sadie

The food was really good. When we first got there, we went to a restaurant where I got a pizza and they gave us these doughnut-like desserts drizzled in white chocolate and topped with Oreo’s. Both were so nice! There was lots of gelato shops dotted about and lots of local shops to stop of to buy lunch or a drink. Thank you for the trip – I loved it! Eva

I would like to say a big thank you to Mr Herbert who organised this whole trip but unfortunately was not able to come. Phoebe

Holocaust Survivor Testimony

This week students in years 9 and 10 watched a live webcast with a holocaust survivor organised by the Holocaust Educational Trust. Mala Tribich, born in Poland in 1930, gave an engrossing and articulate testimony of her experiences of the holocaust and how her family had been brutally persecuted after Nazi invasion in 1939. Mala shared her experiences of persecution and discrimination under the Nazis, including her experiences of life in a Jewish ghetto and Nazi concentration camps. If you would like to read more about Mala and her experiences click here: Holocaust Educational Trust – Mala Tribich MBE, or to watch her testimony click here:  Remember Their Words – Eyal Booker meets Holocaust Survivor Mala Tribich MBE

Mr Herbert

Curriculum Leader for History

Year 7 – Role of the Archaeologist

Year 7 students have been learning about life in Anglo-Saxon England. As part of the festival, they enriched their knowledge and understanding of the role of archaeologists. Inspired by the discoveries made by archaeologists at Sutton Hoo in 1939, students were eager to find out more about how Anglo-Saxon artifacts are found and curated. As a result, students enjoyed watching the Time Team archaeologists excavate an Anglo-Saxon mead hall at Sutton Courtenay. 

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History

History Haiku Competition

With over 50 entries from students of all ages, the History Haiku Competition has once again proven to be a celebration of poetry and history. The competition, aiming to encapsulate historical events in the succinct form of haiku, witnessed a wide display of creativity and historical insight from students in all year groups. From ancient civilizations to the modern age, there were poems that vividly painted historical moments in just 17 syllables, showcasing a curiosity and understanding of the past. The judging process has now commenced with the winners announced and prizes will be awarded next week. Thank you to all who have taken part!

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History

Year 9 History Mock Trial – R v Dudley & Stephens 1884

As part of the festival, Year 9 students participated in a mock trial exploring the 1884 case of R v Dudley and Stephens. The defendants were accused of cannibalism after becoming shipwrecked in the Atlantic Ocean. After 19 days at sea, the captain, Thomas Dudley, convinced two other sailors to kill and eat 17 year old Richard Parker, who had been suffering from the effects of malnutrition and dehydration. Three days later, the crew were rescued and brought back to England. On their return they were charged and found guilty of murder, despite public opinion being sympathetic to the famished sailors. The Year 9 students enjoyed learning about the case and the difference between moral and legal arguments, the importance of the use of evidence in criminal cases and how to construct a convincing defence and prosecution. Hopefully it will have inspired students to see how the study of history can lead to a career in law. 

Mr Herbert

Associate Assistant Headteacher and Curriculum Leader for History

  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • FFT National Attendance Award
  • Behaviour Quality Mark
  • Artsmark Platinum Award - Awards by Arts Council England
  • Lancashire Socio-economic Equality Badge
  • SMART
  • School Mental Health Award
  • Ofsted - Outstanding Provider
  • International School Award
  • FFT National Attendance Award
  • Behaviour Quality Mark