Over the half term our GCSE History students jetted off to Berlin, ready to explore a city bursting with history, culture, and, as it turns out, a lot of rain.
Armed with umbrellas, scarves, and an impressive amount of snacks, we began our journey exploring some of Berlin’s most famous landmarks on a walking tour. First stop: Checkpoint Charlie and the Berlin Wall, where students were amazed to see how a structure that once divided a city now stands as a symbol of unity and resilience. From there, we made our way to the Brandenburg Gate, a must-see site in Berlin and many other historic and cultural sites Berlin had to offer.
One of the highlights was visiting the Reichstag Building, where we learned about Germany’s government and viewed Berlin from its historic terrace. Seeing Berlin lit up in the evening from above was simply magical — twinkling lights, busy streets, and a skyline full of history.
The next day, some sunshine appeared as we made our way to the Olympic Stadium, where imaginations ran wild about races and victories of decades past. The students were very impressed with the stadium which is now home to Herthe Berlin and hosted the 2015 Champion's League final! We rounded off the afternoon with some much-needed retail therapy at the Berlin Mall, where spirits (and energy levels) were instantly revived by souvenirs and snacks. To finish off the day, a trip up the TV Tower gave us a bird’s-eye view of the city — where a few students faced their fears and braved the 203m high ascent to the viewing platform.
Our final day saw our students looking at some of Berlins darker past. The Holocaust Memorial provided a moving and reflective moment for everyone. Despite the damp weather and tired feet, students showed real maturity, curiosity, and respect throughout. We then headed over to the Topography of Terror Museum where students could see the archives and testimonials of the SS and Gestapo which are fundamental in understanding how society went wrong and what we can do today to ensure it doesn’t happen again.
Despite the cold, the rain, and the early mornings, our students were positive, polite, and full of good humour. Teachers were so proud of how everyone embraced the trip — laughter was constant, curiosity never faded, and not a single complaint went unaccompanied by a smile – except the moans of achy legs! Each and every student made Passmores proud!
Miss Gallagher