Jersey War Tunnels support island Travel & Tourism Teachers

FROM John Humphreys, Director of the Travel & Tourism Programme

The Travel & Tourism Programme (part of Springboard Charitable Trust) held its first training event for teachers in Jersey last week at Jersey War Tunnels, one of the island’s most iconic heritage attractions.

Supported by the States of Jersey Education Department and Jersey Tourism, the event attracted teachers from all island secondary schools, Highlands FE College and from La Mare de Carteret School, Guernsey.

Clare Downey, Jersey Education’s head of curriculum support, said the event was vital to the continued professional development of teachers delivering leisure, travel, tourism and business courses, and especially those schools delivering the new GCSE in Leisure and Tourism.

Andy Gibbs of Jersey Careers also supported the event and said that “it is vital that students are attracted to the fantastic career opportunities that exist in the industry through quality teaching resources and careers information. For too long, young islanders have viewed the finance industry as their main area for future employment, but we wish to work with Springboard to raise awareness at an earlier stage of the wide range of progression routes that exist in the island’s key industry”.

Paul Simmonds, General Manager at Jersey War Tunnels, presented a history of the development of the site and the future plans for attaining museum standards for both the permanent exhibition ‘Captive Island’, the temporary exhibitions and the ever-growing collection of archive material and artifacts at the new Research Centre. Paul then took the teachers on a guided tour of the unique underground site, with a focus on interpretation, access and health and safety issues.

Paul also gave a presentation on how the site has marketed itself over recent years, and a fascinating insight into how and why the ‘tunnels’ were rebranded during the past three years into the Jersey War Tunnels. Teachers were able to view design briefs for the exhibition, exterior developments and the new logo. Chris Addey, the site archivist, was also able to provide teachers with a behind the scenes look at how all the island historical ‘treasures’ related to German occupation are logged and made accessible to visitors and researchers alike.

Julian Barber, Strategic Marketing Planner for Jersey Tourism, gave the teachers an in-depth look at how Jersey is marketed as a destination, with a wide array of statistical information of particular value to travel marketing units of study. John Humphreys, Director of the Travel & Tourism Programme provided the teachers with materials to support their teaching and for career awareness raising. John said “this has been a really outstanding event, supported by quality presentations to help teachers deliver the curriculum. The hospitality and co-operation shown by Jersey War Tunnels has been outstanding and I’m certain that the teachers will wish to return with their students”

Teacher Emma Grant-Pearce of Grainville School commented – “this has been the best day’s training I’ve ever had! The presentations have been spot-on, and the quality of the resources and materials I have been provided with will ensure my students will be able to attain higher levels of achievement. I’ll be back to the Tunnels soon with my students.”

Additional Information:
Travel & Tourism Programme: [email protected]
Jersey War Tunnels: [email protected]