Year 11 Step Back in Time

Posted at 10:32 am on 11th March, 2020

Power and the People

In March, Year 11 GCSE History students walked the streets of Manchester, visiting key places specifically linked with their ‘Power and the People’ unit of study. 

Students visited the People’s History Museum, Manchester Central Library and participated in a walking tour, exploring key places associated with protest and the fights for improved rights.

Mr Gillan, Teacher of Humanities, said:

“The event helped students to understand the role of protesters and campaigners in Manchester in the fight for the right to vote and to gain workers rights. 

“To visualise the sites of key historic events that our students have studied will help them to remember and place them in context. It also allowed students to understand that some incredibly important moments in the development of rights in our society happened right on their doorstep.”

The essential event was organised by Humanities staff to support students in their current studies.  In the People’s History Museum, they saw a range of objects and articles from the Peterloo Massacre, the Suffragettes campaign and the early trade union movement.  

At Manchester Central Library, they used the resources to complete unit research.  

Finally, students completed a walking tour of the site of the Peterloo Massacre and visited the new memorial, as well as visiting the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst.   

Year 11 student, Nathan, said:

“The trip was interesting. The visit to the People’s History Museum gave me more insight into topics we are studying and some events became much clearer.”

Fellow student, Jack, said:

“ I was especially interested in the Suffragette’s campaign and the visit gave me a better understanding of the topic. It was great to see the statue of Emmeline Pankhurst, which reflects her important role in history.”