Planetarium Brings WWI History to Life

Children at East Surrey Learning Partnership school Audley School had the opportunity to experience history like never before thanks to the incredible immersive capabilities of our mobile planetarium. While the planetarium is often associated with gazing at the stars, this time, it brought the trenches of World War I vividly to life.

We’re proud to offer opportunities like this to our East Surrey Learning Partnership community. We would like to extend our thanks to the Parents’ Association who supported the purchase of Caterham’s planetarium and to everyone who supports our partnership programme.

Pupils were transported back in time, stepping into the boots of soldiers during the Great War. Jack described the experience as “It felt like we were actually walking in the trench and to see how narrow it was,” giving a sense of the cramped and challenging conditions soldiers faced.

The innovative use of multimedia was a highlight for Isla, who shared, “It was really interesting that it was a mixture of factual pictures and sketches. It was great to see all the soldiers dressed up and what their day-to-day lives would have been like.” This blending of artistic and historical visuals made the experience both educational and captivating.

Jake added his excitement about the action-packed moments: “The bombs were so dramatic, especially when all the mud flew up; it was like 3D cinema.” This dynamic storytelling helped pupils connect with the historical events in a tangible and unforgettable way.

Thank you to all of the members of our school community who make this partnership work possible.