Students at Sidmouth College paid their respects to their predecessors by starting to create a field of 4,000 poppies.
Youngsters from the school council wanted to mark the centenary of the outbreak of World War One and led the planting effort, on history teacher Mary Dean’s suggestion.
Modern languages teacher Katie Hindmarsh said she is hopeful the flowers will bloom over the summer and thanked Sidmouth Garden Centre for offering a good deal on the seeds.
Pupils have also marked the centenary with a trip to Auschwitz, and another is planned to the battlefields in July.
The school also has a programme of events planned to help the students understand the realities of conflict.
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