Students travel to Dorset to retrace evacuee's steps

Sixth Form students from Hertfordshire travelled to Dorset to follow the trail of former pupils who were evacuated during the Second World War.

In 1940, pupils from Haberdashers’ Girls’ School in Hertfordshire were evacuated to Dorchester.

The pupils came to Dorchester County School, which is now Dorchester Middle School to escape the dangers of the Blitz in and around London.

On Tuesday, June 18 the Sixth Form students travelled to the middle school to retrace these steps, and to tell the story of the middle school children who were moved to Dorchester.

During the trip, students visited Cerne Abbas to see some of the homes that the evacuees lived in before spending time at the middle school, presenting their story to pupils in Year 5 and 6, showing pictures of the school during the period and how the classrooms have changed.

A picture of Dorchester County School, now Dorchester Middle School in the 1940s (Image: Dorchester Middle School) Students were also given an insight into the life of a child 80 years ago in Dorchester during the Second World War.

Students from Haberdashers' Girls' School in Hertfordshire speaking with pupils in Year 5 and 6 from Dorchester Middle School (Image: Dorchester Middle School) Arlo, a pupil in 6LM, said: “It was excellent to meet our guests and learn about the history of our school from their very informative assembly. It really reminded me of the book, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.”

Head of School at Dorchester Middle School, Mr Webb, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome budding historians from Haberdashers’ Girls’ School who shared their work with excited and interested Year 5 and 6 pupils.

“Providing young people with wider experiences within the curriculum is a critical part of learning at Dorchester Middle School.”