On Tuesday evening, the History Department hosted its first History Movie Night in the New Hall, with a special screening of 1917. More than seventy Year 9 students stayed after school to experience this powerful depiction of the First World War on the big screen, directly linking to their current classroom study of trench warfare and soldiers’ experiences on the Western Front.

The atmosphere was fantastic. Popcorn in hand, students were captivated by the story’s tension and realism. Many commented afterwards on how much it helped them visualise what life in the trenches might really have been like. The evening ended with an unexpected round of applause from the audience, a lovely sign of how engaged they were throughout.

Events like this help to bring history beyond the classroom, sparking discussion, empathy and curiosity about the human experiences behind the topics we study. A huge thank you to the staff who volunteered their time to supervise and support the event; it couldn’t have happened without them.