WFA grant supports St Mary’s Catholic Academy visit to IWM North

St Mary’s Catholic Academy in in Layton, Blackpool, Lancashire, received a £400 grant from the WFA’s schools grants scheme to help fund a visit to IWM North. Here, the school shares what the day meant to their pupils.

School report

At St Mary's Catholic Academy, we were fortunate enough to receive funding of £400. We used the grant to fund part of the transport costs to the Imperial War Museum North.

On Monday 2 February 2026, Year 6 were delighted to travel to the museum to visit the First World War Galleries, explore primary artefacts and experience the Big Picture Show cinematic display.

The visit provided pupils with an exceptional opportunity to deepen and contextualise their understanding of the First and Second World War. Throughout the day, pupils engaged directly with a range of primary artefacts, including authentic military uniforms, gas masks, examples of wartime encryption, propaganda materials and exhibits illustrating the diverse roles undertaken by individuals on the Home Front and the battlefield.

The experience proved both immersive and intellectually stimulating. Encountering original artefacts enabled pupils to move beyond classroom learning and develop their understanding of the realities of wartime life – their tangible nature bringing historical narratives vividly to life.

Our pupils said: 'The spy exhibition showed us how daring plots of deception have changed the course of conflict. We loved the hands-on learning — especially examining wartime communications and trying to decipher coded messages ourselves. Being able to look closely at real artefacts made the experience immersive. Learning about teamwork on the battlefield helped us understand how much cooperation mattered. It didn't just make learning fun; it helped us to develop our understanding. Thank you to the Western Front Association for supporting our learning.'

The museum's carefully curated narrative approach provided a powerful model for our own work, which will directly inform the development of our own narrative framework for our Malcolm Doolin Award application. Through the thoughtful sequencing of personal stories, artefacts and historical context, we will shape our submission around the interwoven themes of loss, suffering, and endurance, drawing upon the museum's method of foregrounding individual voices alongside broader historical perspectives.

This visit significantly enriched the curriculum, strengthening pupils' historical enquiry skills while nurturing reflection. We extend our sincere thanks to the Western Front Association for making this invaluable educational experience possible and for enabling our pupils to broaden their learning in such a meaningful and memorable way.

Supporting schools to bring First World War history to life

The WFA’s grants for schools are made possible by a generous donation from one of our members. Small grants of £100–£500 are available to schools that have taken part in WFA competitions and activities. Eligible schools receive an invitation to apply in the summer term. Find out more.

The Malcolm Doolin Award for Local History Research is an annual competition open to primary and secondary schools, inviting pupils to research a topic local to them from the period 1914–1918. Two prizes of £500 are awarded, one for 5–11 year olds and one for 11–16 year olds. Winners are invited to attend the WFA’s Service of Remembrance at the Cenotaph. Schools can register now for the 2025/26 award – find out more on the Malcolm Doolin Award page.