CRACKING CODES & EXPLORING THE FUTURE

Published by The Gregg School on Friday 13th of June 2025

On Friday 16th May, 60 students from Years 8, 9 and 10 set off on an exciting educational trip to Bletchley Park, organised by the Maths and Computer Science departments. Known as the historic home of British codebreaking during World War II, Bletchley Park offered a unique opportunity for students to explore the fascinating world of cryptography and computing history. The highlight of the day was a cipher workshop, where students got hands-on experience with various codes and ciphers used during the war. A particularly exciting moment was when the students were able to use an authentic Enigma Machine—the same machine famously used by Benedict Cumberbatch in the film The Imitation Game. This handson experience brought history to life and deepened the students’ understanding of the mathematical and logical thinking behind encryption. Throughout the day, students were commended for their engagement, curiosity, and behaviour. They represented The Gregg School brilliantly, showing great enthusiasm and respect for the historical importance of the site.

A powerful ‘takeaway’ from the visit was learning how the work carried out at Bletchley Park is credited with shortening the war by at least two years, saving millions of lives. This gave students a profound appreciation for the role of mathematics, logic, and computing in real-world problem-solving and historical impact.

In the afternoon, the group also explored Bletchley Park’s new Artificial Intelligence exhibition, which sparked thoughtful discussions among the students. The interactive displays and thought-provoking exhibits encouraged them to reflect on the growing influence of AI in our everyday lives—from smart assistants to automated decisionmaking. Well done to all who took part in making this visit a success!