Year 6 Step Back in Time at RAF Hendon

Year 6 had an incredible day immersing themselves in history during their recent educational visit to the RAF Museum in Hendon, bringing their current learning on WWII vividly to life.

The day began with a workshop where the children were transported back in time to a reconstructed World War II room. Surrounded by authentic artefacts from the era, pupils experienced what life was like for children living through the War. The highlight of the workshop was experiencing an example of an WWII air raid, complete with a visit to a bomb shelter – a powerful experience that gave everyone a real sense of what civilians endured.

Furthermore, the children had the opportunity to try on genuine WWII clothing. Led by an expert guide, they gained insights into the brave individuals who fought in the war and learned about the daily challenges faced both on the home front and the front line. Year 6 also explored the museum’s extensive hangars, coming face-to-face with an array of historic aircraft. The children demonstrated exceptional curiosity throughout, with several sharp-eyed pupils eagerly identifying aircraft models they had previously built at home!

Some of the children shared: “I liked seeing all the planes and finding the different types. The workshops were great because we felt like we were going back in time and experiencing what it was really like, especially when the siren went off!”
“The part of the trip I loved the most was getting to try on the clothes. This was amazing as I got to become a WWII soldier named Bernard who fought for Britain, which really hit home what life was like for them.”

It was a fantastic day of discovery that provided rich context to our classroom topic. Year 6 returned to school feeling thoroughly inspired and eager to dive into their upcoming Big Write on the Blitz!