PUPILS from 11 York schools will get the chance to take part in a First World War battlefields tour.

Two pupils and one teacher from each of the secondary schools, are set to travel to the Western Front from March 6-9 to take part in an education programme and battlefield tour run by the Institute of Education (IOE).

The schools in York taking part areJoseph Rowntree, The Mount, Huntington, Archbishop Holgate’s, Bootham, St Peter's, All Saints RC, Manor, Canon Lee, York High and Millthorpe.

The First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme, funded by the government, is designed to help teachers and pupils from every state funded secondary school in England to develop a deeper understanding of the Great War.

Through enquiry based learning, pupils will unearth regional and personal stories to bring back and share with the wider community, and they will be challenged to think critically about the social, economic and political consequences of the war, its impact on other nations and the role played by the Empire and the Commonwealth.

During the tour the students attend The Last Post Ceremony in Ypres, where buglers of the Ypres volunteer Fire Brigade sound the ‘Last Post’ before a minute’s silence to reflect on the sacrifice of those lost.

Students will also visit museums, battlefield sites, memorials and cemeteries including the Commonwealth War Grave sites of Tyne Cot Cemetery near Ypres, Belgium and Thiepval Memorial in the Somme, France. Going out to the battlefields and seeing the landscape and the history of the war makes it easier for pupils to visualise the scale of the war and the lives lost.

On their return to school pupils will embark on a Legacy 110 project. This project encourages them to share their experiences of visiting the battlefield sites of the Western Front through developing post tour community projects.

These projects could include a study of local soldier, the role played by women, the contribution of Commonwealth forces, or even the impact upon sports such as football and rugby.

Legacy 110 is designed to encourage pupils to reach out into their local communities and create a lasting legacy for the First World War Centenary.

In return they will receive certificates, badges and the best projects will get national recognition through the First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme website and special events designed to celebrate their achievements.

First World War Centenary Battlefield Tours Programme runs until March 2019, eligible schools not already booked on a tour should visit www.centenarybattlefieldtours.org to register for a place.