As THE 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War approaches, pupils from Gosford Hill School in Kidlington have been learning about the sacrifices made for them all those years ago.

The school, in Oxford Road, always takes part in the annual Poppy Appeal, but this year students are enjoying a series of special assemblies on the First World War and a two-minute silence, at 11am on November 11, will be signalled by the Last Post, played on the trumpet by 15-year-old pupil Charley Middleton.

The special commemorations are being organised by the school’s deputy headteacher, Wendy Hemmingsley.

She said: “This year is a very special anniversary and we are very keen that as many of the children as possible learn as much as they can about what happened in the Great War, as well as in the conflicts they see on the television, such as those in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Our challenge has been to make it relevant to the pupils. It was so long ago and so unimaginable, it is difficult for them to believe it happened and that so many people died.

“I think they have been genuinely shocked by what they have learned, particularly about the conditions troops fought in and the age of some of those troops, who at 16 years old were just a little older than some of the children here.”

Pupils have been meeting in house groups for assemblies about wars past and present.

Ms Hemmingsley said: “We have been using photography from the Great War, up to present day and some pretty astounding facts and figures, such as the fact that 20,000 men died on just the first day of the Battle of the Somme.”

Tom Dale, aged 12, said: “I am an army cadet and one of my relatives was killed in the First World War, so I know it is important to remember the people who died and are still dying. And it isn’t just the soldiers who are dying we need to help; some return from Afghanistan unable to cope and they badly need our help.”

Mollie Ward, 13, said: “It has been interesting finding out about the war and makes you realise why it is so important to sell poppies.”

Tom Bickmore, 12, said: “I did a project in year six about the Second World War and my grandparents told me all about it. It’s important to remember.”

Amy Buckingham, 12, said: “Poppies are very simple, they were made that way so that soldiers who had been injured in the war could make them.”

Matt Kerby, 12, added: “Poppies are used because a lot of the soldiers were killed or buried in poppy fields.”

Wendy Hemmingsley said: “The playing of the Last Post on Remembrance Day will be a poignant way to mark the occasion. We have a tannoy system here in school. Charley will be playing her trumpet into it and in doing so will mark the beginning of a two-minute silence for pupils to observe.”

Sixth-formers are selling poppies at Gosford Hill and Ms Hemmingsley and the other staff have been talking about how the appeal helps service personnel and their families who have been injured or are in hardship.

The school also hopes to break the £1,000 barrier with this year’s poppy sales.

Charley Middleton said she was honoured to have been asked to play the Last Post.

The 15-year-old from Kidlington said: “My music teacher here volunteered me to play the Last Post and I have been learning the music for a few days now. It will be a little nerve-racking knowing the whole school is listening, but I think it will also be fun.”