DISADVANTAGED children at a Bromsgrove school have been touring museums and World War battle grounds with local veterans, in a special project to help students engage in history.

Hunters Hill Technology College, which specialises in educating children with emotional, mental health and behavioural issues, teamed up with the Redditch branch of the Parachute Regiment Association for a series of school trips.

The first outing was to RAF Duxford for a private tour of the Airborne Museum, followed by a visit to Colchester Barracks, the home of the Parachute Regiment, where students were given an exclusive tour of the restored Dakota Aircraft.

In June, children visited the Honourable Artillery Company, Churchill War Rooms and HMS Belfast

The latest trip to Belgium and the Netherlands marked 100 years since the Battle of Passchendaele. Students and veterans attended the Menin Gate Last Post ceremony, where Redditch's war heroes provided a guard of honour.

Hunters Hill curriculum lead for humanities Malcolm Barnes said: "We also had our own ceremony and it was an emotional time. The students got to see the impact of WW1 and WW2 that day, which was a lot to comprehend.

"At one point all students were walking around with the veteran and asking questions so they were able to understand.

"This was one of the highlights of the project as it was about the social and emotional development of the students and for them to be able to ask questions and understand was a massive achievement."

The group then travelled on to Arnhem in the Netherlands, where many of Redditch's veterans fought in the Second World War.

Malcolm added: "The students' social and emotional development has been amazing and the development of communication skills more than what has happened in school.

"The link between the school and the Redditch Parachute Regiment is now stronger than ever before and will continue."