News

This week, Beeslack Community High School marked Armistice Day with a series of Remembrance Assemblies delivered to all year groups. These assemblies were led by eight S5 students who recently took part in the school’s WWI Battlefields Experience - a journey through the historic and emotional landscapes of Ypres and the Somme.

The visit, which took place earlier this year, gave students the opportunity to stand where soldiers once stood, to walk through former battlefields, and to explore cemeteries and memorials that continue to bear witness to the scale of the First World War. Their reflections formed the heart of this year’s assemblies, offering a personal and meaningful perspective on the importance of remembrance

During the assemblies, the pupils shared powerful accounts of the places they visited, including Tyne Cot, the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery in the world, and Thiepval, where the names of over 73,000 missing soldiers are carved into towering stone panels. They also spoke about Langemark, a German military cemetery, a site which offered a poignant reminder that grief and loss were experienced on all sides of the conflict.

Through these sites - vast cemeteries with row upon row of headstones, and quiet corners where the unknown rest - the students explored the human cost of war. Their reflections highlighted the stories of named soldiers, such as Private William Frederick McFadzean VC, and the many thousands of unknown soldiers whose identities were lost to time, yet whose sacrifices remain deeply significant.

The pupils emphasised that remembrance is not only about honouring those who fought, but also about recognising the impact of conflict on families, communities, and generations that followed. Their words encouraged students to reflect on the continuing effects of war today.

A key theme across all assemblies was the global nature of the First World War. The students highlighted the contributions of soldiers from across the Commonwealth, including troops from Canada, India, South Africa, New Zealand, and beyond. This helped younger students understand that remembrance is not limited to one nation, but is a shared act of reflection across the world.

The students also challenged audiences to consider the experiences of soldiers who were once viewed as enemies. In the peaceful setting of Langemark German Cemetery, they came to understand that those buried there - many of them teenagers - were also sons, brothers, and friends whose families waited for news that never came. This message of shared humanity became a powerful anchor point throughout the assembly.

As part of the senior assemblies, a wreath was laid on behalf of the school community. The wreath bore a message written collaboratively by the students:

Whether known to man or God,
Your sacrifice unites us in remembrance.
May you rest in eternal peace,
And may war never touch these fields again.

This moment served as both a tribute and a commitment - a reminder that remembrance carries forward into the choices we make, the values we uphold, and the respect we show to one another.

The eight S5 pupils delivered the assemblies with exceptional maturity and depth. Their ability to speak with honesty, empathy, and clarity moved audiences across all year groups. Staff praised not only their confidence, but the sensitivity with which they explored both the historical context and the emotional resonance of remembrance.

Their preparation, collaboration, and understanding of the significance of this event reflect the very best of what student leadership can achieve. As a school, we are immensely proud of their efforts.