Students at our school who also serve in the Uniformed Services were proudly front and centre of VE Day commemorations.

We held a series of events to mark the historic anniversary and staff were also asked to share their family stories from the Second World War to bring the experiences to life and closer to home for everyone.

“Stories have included a nan who narrowly avoided an air raid bomb in King’s Lynn, and a granddad who was shot in the hip and spent the rest of his life with the bullet inside him,” said History Teacher Lydia Beatty.

“I grew up listening to stories of wartime and the Blitz from my grandparents. Sadly, for the next generation, this isn’t going to be possible, so it’s important that we continue to mark these days so the significance of those who fought is never lost,” she added.

The stories have been shared with students, and they were also encouraged to speak to their own family members to see if there were any stories from the war.

How VE Day unfolded and what its impact was at the time was part of lessons during the anniversary, and students listened to some music from the time, including Vera Lynn, to mark a different point throughout the day, which culminated with a two-minute silence to reflect on those who lost their lives.