History of Warfare School Trip to Normandy & The Somme

The two World Wars saw significant developments in tactics and technology, making a history school trip to Normandy and the Somme idea for those studying the history of warfare!

In the Somme, your students will be able to learn more about the weaponry, tactics and technology and how it evolved over the course of WW1.And in Normandy, your students will see first-hand some of the impressive new technologies that were employed during WW2, including the famous Mulberry Harbours which were used during Operation Dynamo.

Want to look back even further? We also offer a history of warfare school trip to Ypres, Waterloo and Dunkirk, giving your students the chance to look at the Napoleonic Wars, as well as WW1 and WW2.

Suggested Itinerary

Day 1

Morning

Travel to Normandy

Afternoon

Visit Pegasus Bridge

Evening

Evening meal

Day 2

Morning

Visit Arromanches Landings Museum and Gold Landing Beach

Afternoon

Visit to Mulberry Harbour, German Battery at Longues-sur-mer and Bayeux War Graves Cemetery

Evening

Evening meal

Day 3

Morning

Drive to the Somme

Afternoon

Visit 1916 Somme Museum

Evening

Evening meal

Day 4

Morning

Visit Thiepval, the Lochnager Crater and Newfoundland Park

Afternoon

Return to school

3 nights' half-board accommodation
Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
Detailed info pack
Free staff place ratio 1:8
Itinerary planning service
Motorway tolls and taxes
Return Channel crossings
Return executive coach travel
Vamoos - our easy-to-use travel app
VAT at current rate to tour operators

Curriculum

A Level

The changing nature of warfare
Life in the trenches
Challenges of German nationalism
Germany: democracy and dictatorship
Germany and West Germany

GCSE

Conflict and tension: WW1
The Western Front
Inter-war years: 1918-1939
Developments in British warfare
Life in wartime Britain
Germany: democracy and dictatorship
Germany and West Germany

Key Stage 3

Challenges for Europe and the wider world, 1901

Primary

British history beyond 1066

Accommodation

Centre Bon Sejour

Situated on a fine, sandy beach, the centre has a lounge, classrooms and a restaurant, together with a leisure and games area. It also provides outdoor activities such as mini-golf, tennis and sailing. Indoor facilities include table tennis, pool and karaoke. Students will be accommodated in twin, triple or quad rooms all with en-suite facilities. A lift makes for easy access to the 3 floors.

Le Clos de l’Ancien Pressoir

Le Clos de l’Ancien Pressoir is a converted horse stable which offers modern accommodation in a traditional French setting. The centre also has a large classroom, football pitch and a staff lounge overlooking the entrance. The centre only accepts one group at a time and offers sole occupancy with students in multi-bedded rooms, and adults in twins and singles.

UNCMT Bernières-sur-mer

UNCMT Bernières-sur-Mer is an excellent school group centre located just 400m from Juno beach. The centre is set in private walled grounds with a resident centre director to help facilitate a great trip.Students are accommodated in multi bedded rooms with teachers in twins or singles. Each room has en-suite facilities. Meals are served in a separate dining room. Other facilities, which are perfect for school groups, include a classroom/activity room, a large TV/table tennis room, a separate area for teachers, a volleyball court and a boules pitch.

Educational Activities

Thiepval Memorial to the Missing

The slaughter on the Somme wiped out a generation, and continues to cast a shadow on Britain’s popular consciousness.

Arromanches Landings Museum

Built on the harbour at Arromanches overlooking Gold Beach, this museum uses original artifacts, dioramas and audio-visual presentations - including

Bayeux British Cemetery

The largest British military cemetery in France, this site on the outskirts of Bayeux is the last resting place of

Lochnagar Crater

On the morning of the first day of the battle of the Somme, Welsh miners blew a huge mine under

Gold Beach

Gold Beach was the Allied code name for the centre invasion beach during the invasion of Normandy on June 6,

Longues-sur-Mer Battery

Part of the infamous Atlantic Wall built by the Germans to protect the French coast, Longues sur Mer Battery could

Newfoundland Memorial Park, Beaumont-Hamel

On the first day of the battle of the Somme, eight hundred men of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment went over

Pegasus Bridge Museum

This museum tells the story of the airborne invasion, in particular the 6th Airborne Division's capture of this strategically vital

Somme 1916 Museum

From the ninth to the sixteenth centuries, the people of Albert, like many in the region, got used to hiding

Cultural Activities

Bayeux Tapestry

Justifiably famous as one of the most extraordinary artefacts to survive from the eleventh century, the Bayeux Tapestry is a

Mont Saint-Michel Abbey

The long history of Mont Saint-Michel is thought to date back to 708AD when Aubert, Bishop of Avranches had a

Supporting you every step of the way

Creating your perfect trip

Your quote will be put together by an experienced Tour Adviser who’ll be an expert in the subject area and will know the destination really well too. They’ll work with you to create a trip to suit your group’s needs and meet your learning objectives.

Launching your trip to parents and students

The next step is to get your trip approved and then get students signed up to it. Our ‘Trip Launch Pack’ will help you with this step. This is full of resources (all free to download) designed to make your life easier at this crucial point in the trip planning process.

After you’ve booked

Once you’ve booked, your dedicated Itinerary Coordinator will start work on the finer details. They’ll make sure your itinerary makes the most of your time and they’ll take on most of the admin tasks for your trip (freeing you up to do what you do best – teach).

Support while you’re away

From lost property to properly lost, we’ll always be on the end of the phone while you’re out on the trip. You’ll get a final info pack before you go, as well as access to all your trip documents via the Vamoos app.

After your trip

We’ll ask you for feedback, so we can improve our service. Let’s start planning your next trip too, so parents have plenty of time to pay (and so it’s less stressful for you). And don’t forget to head to our resources hub to continue the learning back in the classroom.