Friday 7th November

Year 5 Trip

On Thursday, Year 5 took a fascinating trip back to 1893 with a visit to the Ragged School Museum in East London, originally set up by Dr Barnardo. The children stepped into the shoes of Victorian pupils and quickly discovered that school life back then was very different!

Good posture was essential, children were expected to be silent, and lessons focused on rote learning, handwriting, and plenty of arithmetic, including the tricky Victorian money system. Pupils also learned about some of the strict punishments used in classrooms, such as the back straightener for slouching, the dunce’s hat for anyone falling behind, and finger traps for fidgeting!

The day continued with a hands-on workshop about Victorian home life, where the children learned how clothes were washed using a large tub, washing dolly, and mangle. They even tried smelling the strong carbolic soap (with mixed reactions!) and were amazed to discover that all buttons had to be removed before drying clothes through the mangle, only to be sewn back on again afterward.

It was a wonderful experience that brought history to life and helped Year 5 truly appreciate how much school and home life have changed since Victorian times.