Year 9 & 10 Poland Trip - 2025
It was a genuine pleasure to take a number of our de Stafford students on our recent History trips to Poland. Both the Year 9 and Year 10 groups were absolutely fantastic and represented the school with immense pride and maturity throughout the entire experience. On both trips, members of the public, whether at the hotel or in museums, took the time to comment on how polite, respectful, and engaged our students were. It was clear to everyone just how much of a credit they are to our school community.
We visited many historically significant and emotionally impactful sites. At the Schindler Museum, students gained valuable insights into what life was like for Jewish people in Poland under Nazi rule. This visit set the scene powerfully for our tour of Auschwitz. As I walked around between the groups at Auschwitz, I was deeply moved to hear students making thoughtful connections between what they had learned at the Schindler Museum and what they were now witnessing. Their level of respect and quiet reflection was profound, and I cannot express how maturely they conducted themselves during what was, for many, an emotionally intense experience.
We also visited the Gestapo Museum, which exposed the harsh realities faced by those who opposed the Nazi regime, including a sobering look at the prison cells used for political prisoners. A particularly powerful and memorable part of the trip was hearing from Anna Janowska CioÅcka, a Holocaust survivor, who shared her personal story of living through the Holocaust as a Jewish child. She spoke about the daily realities of life in a ghetto and the profound challenges she and her family faced. Her testimony was deeply moving and offered students a rare, first-hand insight into the human impact of these historical events. Outside of these historical visits, we also had the chance to explore the beautiful city of Kraków. From its charming Old Town to the awe-inspiring Wawel Cathedral, highlighted by many students as a standout moment.
I am incredibly proud of how our students represented de Stafford School and conducted themselves throughout the duration of both trips. It was also wonderful to see so many of them wearing their trip jumpers with pride, fully embracing every aspect of the experience. I hope they returned home with a wealth of new knowledge, unforgettable memories, and plenty of stories they were eager to share with you.
Please do pass on my sincere praise to your child. It was an absolute pleasure to take such a wonderful group of young people away. We hope to see many of our current Year 9 students join us again on our next international History trip.
Miss Oxley.
