Sent to Parents/Cares of Year 10 GCSE History Students on 4/09/2025
Y10 Residential Trip to the Battlefields – July 2026
Y10 GCSE History Classes 10A1\10A2/10B/10C/10D
We are excited to be arranging another visit to the Battlefields in Ypres in Belgium and the Somme in France for students in current Year 10. This will happen between Thursday 2nd to Saturday 4th July 2026. The cost of the trip will be £380 in total; this includes all transportation, two night’s accommodation, breakfast and lunch on two days and two evening meals plus entrance to the museums. We are also including a visit to Walibi, a Belgian theme park on the final day.
ITINERARY OUTLINE:
- Day One: You will need a packed lunch for your journey out to Ypres. Once there, visiting Ypres town, Hooge Crater and trench system museum, Tyne Cot cemetery and the Menin Gate, dinner is included.
- Day Two: Arras tunnels, Thiepval Memorial, Lochnager Crater and Newfoundland Park. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.
- Day Three: A day in Walibi theme park. Breakfast is included
Our group of students and staff will be travelling by coach and ferry, leaving the academy on 2nd July (timings will be confirmed nearer the date). It is essential that all students have a valid passport (that is not more than 10 years old) and a free Global Health Insurance Card (www.ghic.org.uk).
For 2026 Non-European citizens will also need an ETIAS which is an online visa to enter the EU. Current guidance is that it will come into effect early in 2026. Current guidance is that for under 18s it will be required, but free of cost. I will update more on this when it goes live.
Visits play an important part in the learning of our students and we understand the financial demands placed on parents resulting from our school activities, which is why this trip is not a compulsory part of our curriculum. It is intended to extend the students understanding of significant events in our history as well as to develop their knowledge of World War One medicine and surgery. If we do not receive enough interest or contributions to make this trip financially viable, it will be cancelled and any deposit returned.
There is space for a maximum of 40 pupils on the trip and, in the event the trip is oversubscribed, a draw system will be used to decide those attending with the remainder on a reserve list. Student behaviour and attendance will also be considered in place allocations. The 40 who are allocated places will then be added to MCAS (My Child At School) for payment of the deposits. Due to the need to secure hotels, parents will have until Friday 26th September to pay the deposit of £80 on MCAS to secure a place. If deposits have not been paid then the place will be offered to other students.
To request a place on the trip for your child, please complete the short form at the link below, no later than September 14th. Successful students will be notified on Monday 15th.
https://forms.office.com/e/EX2BcYjxqX
The Parental consent will be sent separately by email via our trip management system, Evolve. All future instalments will be via MCAS. We regret that we cannot accept cash payments at school. Please do not make payment on your child’s lunch money account as it is not transferrable.
Payment is required in full before the trip departs. Instalments will be due as follows:
| £80 | 26th Sep 2025 (deposit) |
| £80 | 30th November 2025 |
| £70 | 30th January 2026 |
| £80 | 30th March 2026 |
| £70 | 4th May 2026 (balance) |
| £380 | Total Sum Payable pp in full |
On the trip we will be carrying a first aid kit and at least one member of staff accompanying the visit is a qualified first aider.
You are advised to check with your personal home insurance policy to see whether or not you are covered for cancellation in the event of sudden illness, injury or bereavement which may prevent your child from going on the trip. Policies of this nature can be bought online and the fee is relative to the cost of the holiday; the cost of the trip is not recoverable under the academy’s travel insurance policy. You should also be aware that the academy reserves the right to withdraw a place on the trip for any student whose attitude, attendance, behaviour, conduct or punctuality falls below the standard we expect and require of our students.
If you have any further questions with regards to the trip, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school. If your child has any questions, they are very welcome to speak to me in school or any of my colleagues in the History department. We very much hope that your child is able to come on the trip as it is an excellent programme and they will find it very educationally rewarding.
Regards
Mr A Archer
Teacher of History
Email: anthony.archer@attrust.org.uk
Academy vision: Westbourne is an inclusive academy. We support all students, regardless of starting point, to achieve their potential and develop the skills necessary for employment and life.
General queries to: wes-office@attrust.org.uk or 01473 742315
School Money and data information queries to: wes-data@attrust.org.uk