TSA Commemorates Remembrance Day with Reflection, Respect and Remembrance

Students and staff at The Skipton Academy have come together to mark Remembrance Day through a series of moving tributes and educational experiences designed to honour the sacrifices of those who have served and died in conflict.

The commemorations began with a deeply reflective Year 9 visit to the First World War battlefields of Belgium, organised in conjunction with Ilkley Grammar School, another secondary school in the Moorlands Learning Trust. Over several days, students explored key sites including Ypres, the Somme, Tyne Cot Cemetery, and the Menin Gate, where they attended the Last Post Ceremony. This emotional experience gave students a unique insight into the scale and human impact of war. Many were struck by the vast rows of white gravestones and the personal stories behind the names engraved upon them.

One student reflected:

“It was really moving to stand where so many soldiers fought and lost their lives. Seeing the names on the memorials made it all feel real. It’s something we’ll never forget.”

Upon returning to school, students and staff collaborated on a poppy installation that transformed part of the school grounds into a striking display of remembrance. Handmade poppies, created by staff and students, were arranged to cascade around the student entrance area, inspired by the Tower of London’s ‘Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red’ installation. Each poppy represented a life lost in conflict and served as a powerful visual symbol of remembrance and unity.

On Sunday 9th November, representatives from The Skipton Academy joined local organisations, schools, and community members at the Skipton Remembrance Parade and Service. Our Student Leadership Team and Mr Cook, Principal, proudly marched alongside veterans and civic leaders, laying a wreath on behalf of the Academy at the town’s war memorial. The ceremony provided a moment of collective reflection, as the community stood together in silence to remember the fallen.

Principal, Mr Mark Cook, said:

“Remembrance Day holds deep significance within our school community. It provides a vital opportunity for our students to reflect on the sacrifices made by previous generations and to understand the values of courage, service and peace. I was incredibly proud of our students - those who represented the school in the parade, those who took part in the poppy installation and those which attended the battlefields trip. Their conduct, respect and empathy were exemplary.”

These activities highlight The Skipton Academy’s ongoing commitment to providing students with meaningful, real-world learning experiences that promote understanding, compassion, and respect. Through events like these, students live out the school’s ethos — “Belong, Challenge, Inspire” — by connecting with their community, challenging their perspectives, and finding inspiration in the stories of those who came before them.