Drapers’ Multi-Academy Trust Commemorates 80th Anniversary of VE Day with Trust-Wide Celebrations

Pupils and staff across Drapers’ Multi-Academy Trust came together to commemorate the 80^th anniversary of VE Day.

Throughout the week, schools held special assemblies where pupils learned about the significance of VE Day, the history behind it, and the incredible sacrifices made by those who lived through the war. These sessions provided valuable opportunities for reflection and understanding of our shared past. A two-minute silence was observed in remembrance of those who gave their lives.

At Drapers’ Academy, the school choir, joined by staff members, gave a beautiful performance of "We’ll Meet Again" – a heartfelt tribute that resonated with many and added to the special atmosphere of the day. During lunch, pupils enjoyed a traditional British treat of scones and jam.

A highlight of the celebrations was Drapers’ Academy VE Day Creative Competition, which saw an outpouring of imagination and effort from pupils. Congratulations to George, Leila, and Megan for their outstanding entries – their work truly captured the spirit and meaning of the day.

At Drapers’ Pyrgo, pupils participated in a special VE Day assembly, followed by a two-minute silence and a themed lunch menu.

Drapers’ Brookside held a non-uniform day, where pupils and staff dressed in red, white, and blue to mark the occasion. A whole-school street party took place on the junior school fields, bringing together children from the nursery, infant, and junior schools to enjoy lunch while listening to 1940s music.

Teachers also planned a range of exciting afternoon activities, including designing a VE Day newspaper front page, researching WWII heroes, writing thank-you letters to soldiers, cooking ration recipes from 1945, learning wartime songs or poems, creating a 1940s dance hall, and playing traditional wartime games.

Families at Drapers’ Brookside kindly sent in WWII artefacts for pupils to look at and learn more about the past.

The celebrations gave pupils a fun and memorable way to learn about history, reflect on the past, and feel part of something special.