Bournville School Remembrance event: More than 700 students and staff at Bournville School gathered in the school playground to mark Armistice Day with a heartfelt and moving tribute.
As an ‘all-through’ school Bournville – which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust – includes both Primary and Secondary schools, educating students from the age of four to 16.
And at 11am, on Monday, November 11th, more than 750 primary and secondary aged students from across the school left their classrooms and gathered in silence to honour the service and sacrifice of the Armed Forces community from Britain and the Commonwealth.
The remembrance event, held on the playgrounds, has become an annual tradition for the school in Hay Green Lane. This year students walked out and lined up in perfect silence, to the tune of Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’.
The Bournville School Remembrance event was opened with an address by Principal Marie Rooney, after which captains from each form group stepped forward and laid beautiful poppy wreaths they had made in tutor time over the past weeks.
Assistant Principal Holly Poole said: “This was an incredibly special moment and a culmination of lots of hard work by staff and students who very much wanted to play their part and show their respect as part of the service.”
Last Post played at Bournville School Remembrance event
The Last Post sounded through the school grounds, and prefects Sophie Finnegan (16) and Hannah Hussein (15) delivered powerful poetry readings as the students reflected.
Sophie, who read ‘In Flanders Fields’ by John McCrae, said: “The poem shows we need to remember the fallen who fought for our country, and that what they did was very heroic.”
Hannah, who read “The Ode of Remembrance” by Laurence Binyon, said: “I think it’s important that we don’t forget all the wars we’ve had in the past, and all the lives that were lost. There are wars still happening today, and remembering the past helps us learn not to repeat it.”
The students were impeccably behaved as they silently contemplated the sacrifices made by those who came before us.
Miss Rooney said: “I am so proud of our staff and students coming together to show their respect at this remembrance event every year.
“The ceremony is an important way to commemorate those that gave their lives in the Great Wars and a reminder of the sacrifices made by our service personnel, who have served and continue to serve today.
“At Bournville, we believe it’s very important that students learn about subjects like this, if we want them to grow to be responsible, caring adults beyond school, who recognise their place in society.
“I’m very pleased that the students behaved impeccably throughout the event and were respectfully enthusiastic to be involved and learn more.”
“At Bournville, we believe it’s very important that students learn about subjects like this, if we want them to grow to be responsible, caring adults beyond school, who recognise their place in society,”
– Principal Marie Rooney