School Visits
Give your students an immersive experience of life on the front line without having to leave the UK!
Plan your Visit
Delivered by our experienced guides, we offer authentic experiences in our replica WW1 trench system for both primary and secondary schools that will give your students a real understanding of trench life for the British Tommy.
We can tailor your visit according to your school's needs, allowing teachers to choose 3-4 detailed 45 min presentations as described in the sections below. Extended visits are possible for larger groups or for schools wanting a more
in-depth experience.
How your school visit will be organised and additional information can also be downloaded via the link below:
Core Presentations
Trench Tour
One of our guides will escort you and your group through the trenches, complete with historically correct props including a working periscope, gas alarms and even various tinned foods!
We will show you where soldiers slept, worked, ate and even went to the toilet. (Visitors with mobility difficulties can observe from various vantage points above the trench system.)
Dressing Tommy
What did the British soldier need to serve in the trenches? An interactive exploration of the uniform and equipment of the soldier in the trenches. The students will see all the physical components of the British uniform and kit and there may even be an lucky volunteer mannequin!
Experience an officer's dugout
Discover where officers and signallers worked, ate, slept and how they communicated with Headquarters.
The dugout and the experience of officers makes for an interesting contrast to the experience of soldiers in the front line trenches. A visit to the dug out provides an excellent opportunity for understanding the play, 'A Journey's End'.
The dugout is purposefully built above ground with two exits to provide a safe environment.
Self- Guided
Visits
We can facilitate independent presentations or learning on the history of the Great War .
WW1 Presentations
Medicine & Surgery
in the Trenches
How were countless lives saved during the Great War? This presentation describes the medical innovations that took place during this time that saved many lives. It includes a closer look at the chain of evacuation that saw a wounded soldier back from no man's land to relative safety. This supports KS4 students studying Injuries, Treatment and the Trenches, GCSE. (Pearson Edexcel)
Weapons of
Trench Warfare
This demonstration of the weapons used in trench warfare shows the change and development from the bayonet to the machine gun.
We will also explore the realities of gas warfare and changing methods of protection against gas as the war progressed.
This supports AQA Conflict and Tension in the First World War.
And a study of the first world war at KS2 and 3.
Rations and cooking
What did soldiers eat in the trenches and how did they cook on the front line? Just how hard was an army biscuit? This presentation compares food and rations for the soldier with the diet of the average civilian. It includes examples of the food provided and the recipes followed by army cooks.
Life on the Home Front WW1
Explore what daily life on the home front may have been like for those left behind. Look inside a soldiers care packages and consider rationing and bombing raids. To discover how women's lives changed during the course of the war we cover munitions workers, the Post Office, the suffrage movement and VAD nursing with a range of handling objects available alongside actual historic artefacts.
Dressing Tommy
An engaging and interactive session. This session aims to the explore the uniform and equipment of the average soldier. Groups can participate in 'dressing Tommy' learning about each item of standard issue kit along the way.
Officers on the Front Line
Spend time in our replica officer's dugout (purposefully reconstructed above ground) to learn about the differences of the trench experience and roles across the different ranks and social classes.
WW2 Presentations
Life on the Home Front
Explore what daily life on the home front may have been like for those left behind. This talk explores the realities of evacuation, touching on the impact of the 'Phoney War'. We will also investigate the impact of the war on education, rationing of food and clothing as well as looking at key campaigns such as 'Make do and Mend' and 'Dig for Victory'.
This talk includes a visit to our reconstructed Anderson Shelter.
The Blitz
Based around our reconstructed Anderson shelter this session explores the experience of civilians and emergency services during the Blitz. Take a look at civilian gas masks, and the weapons to watch out for!
The Home Guard
Explore the role of the Home Guard in the event of an invasion of Britain? Explore the uniform and weapons used as well as some of the tactics Britain put in place to protect her shores.
RAF Detling
Led by Lead Historian Andy Robertshaw, this talk explores the military history of our site. Great for topics on local / Kent history this talk will discuss the heavy bombardment of Detling Airfield during WW2 by the German Luftwaffe which resulted in many casualties.
Site Facilities:
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Free all day parking for multiple mini buses and coaches
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Male, Female and disabled access toilets
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Indoor teaching and picnic areas
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Our staff are familiar with emergency procedures and first aid kits are accessible on site.
Sample Itinerary:
Based on a class of 30 students:
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10:00 Arrival / safety briefing
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10:15 Medicine and Surgery
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11:00 Comfort break
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11:15 Dressing Tommy Talk
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12:00 Life on Home Front Talk
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12:45 Lunch (indoor available)
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13:15 Explore the trench
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14:00 Depart
If several classes are attending they can rotate around talks.
Off to the battlefields of Europe?
We are en route and less than an hour's drive from Dover.
A part day trench visit can be combined with a visit to the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham or for remembrance a visit to Shornecliffe Cemetery at Hythe that contains Great War and Second World War burials including the Chinese Labour Corps, Canadians and German Prisoners of War.
