The Education Experience at the British Normandy Memorial and Winston Churchill Centre

An unforgettable journey into the past — honouring the fallen, understanding their stories, and connecting with history in powerful, personal ways…

The Normandy Memorial Trust is developing an exciting initiative that will see visiting schools and youth groups taking part in a three-phase “Education Experience” designed to educate, stimulate, and engage young people with the legacy of the Normandy landings and those who served.

Phase 1 – Pre-Visit Research and Discovery

Before their visit, students will be encouraged to explore the Memorial’s enhanced Digital Roll of Honour search facility to find the name of a fallen serviceman who may be from their local area.

With support from the Trust’s researcher and using these guidelines, students can research this individual’s life and service. Verified findings are added to the Memorial’s permanent records, credited to the student and school. This phase creates a personal and emotional connection, as students will later find and stand before the name they researched at the Memorial.

Phase 2 – Welcome and Introduction

On arrival, groups are welcomed by Laura, our Education Co-ordinator, and introduced to the Memorial through a compelling short film narrated by Normandy Veteran Ambassador Ken Hay. This sets the stage for understanding the events of D-Day in the wider context of the Second World War.

Groups then rotate between:

A self-guided outdoor tour of the Memorial following an engaging quiz/ treasure hunt to find interesting facts and details; and later in the summer, the third phase of the experience will be ‘live’ –

Phase 3 – Operation Remembrance

These are the immersive Learning Stations currently in development that will consist of:

Station 1:
A D-Day Strategy Game

Teams of students will use tablets to plan the D-Day landings, simulating troop movements and strategic deception.
Key learning Outcome: Bravery alone didn’t win the war — strategy, coordination, and critical thinking mattered too

Station 2:
Virtual Reality Spy Mission

Using VR headsets, students take on the role of Allied spies on covert missions in occupied France.
Key learning Outcome: A deeper understanding of the intelligence work and risk behind the scenes of battle.

Station 3:
AI Veteran Conversations
Through a vintage phone, students speak with AI-driven representations of D-Day veterans — hearing first-hand stories of courage, loss, and camaraderie.
Key learning Outcome: A moving, personal connection to those who served.

We are aiming for the Education Experience to be more than a visit — it is an opportunity for young people to connect with the past in ways that are meaningful, memorable, and deeply human. Through historical research, immersive technology, and face-to-face storytelling, students come away not only informed but inspired to remember.

Meet Laura, the Educational Co-ordinator 

Hi, I’m Laura and I live in the beautiful Normandy countryside with my husband, a military historian, and my teenage daughter. I moved here in 2015, after many years working as a Crime Scene Examiner in London. I’ve never forgotten the invaluable training and mentoring I was given by passionate people, something that I have strived to continue throughout my career. I was involved in many community youth engagement projects in London, always inspired by the young people that I met and how much I learnt from them.

In my spare time I am a volunteer for the Royal British Legion, the armed forces charity, performing the role of Secretary for the Normandy Branch.
I look forward to welcoming you to the Winston Churchill Centre for Learning!

If you have any questions about the education experience on offer, you can contact me on Laura@britshnormandymemorial.org 

 

Other Resources:

D-Day 80 education pack

Created  by Normandy Memorial Trust in collaboration with the British Council and GCHQ – includes historical information, stories and creative classroom activities for KS2-3.

Churchill Archives for schools

Spirit of Normandy Trust

A key partner of the Normandy Memorial Trust involved in facilitating Veteran visits to Normandy and educating children and young people.

British Normandy Memorial app

Virtual tour guide for use during visit