It has been an exciting and memorable day for Year 5 as they travelled back in time for an immersive Victorian-themed morning. Dressed in fantastic Victorian costumes, complete with pinafores, waistcoats and flat caps, the children and teachers fully embraced life as it would have been in a 19th-century classroom.

To begin their school day, the children were separated into boys’ and girls’ classes, as was the custom in Victorian schools. It was then time for morning drill: the children were marched smartly around the astro before being instructed to line up in silence, where Mr Cookson and Mrs Reid carried out a strict inspection of uniforms, posture and general readiness.

The morning lessons included traditional calligraphy, where great care and precision were needed to form neat, elegant handwriting using ink. In arithmetic, they grappled with old-style money, who knew that there were once 240 pence (d) in a pound? The children rose to the challenge, showing determination as they tackled these unfamiliar calculations.

As the morning continued, the girls took part in a sewing lesson, carefully stitching beautiful designs, while the boys developed bridges. This led to thoughtful discussions about gender roles in Victorian times, particularly as many girls expressed a keen interest in designing and building the bridges themselves.

To round off the experience, the children reflected thoughtfully on what they had learnt, discussing the fairness of Victorian education. They made insightful links to gender and learning styles, and considered how it compares with life at Chinthurst today, where opportunities are equal and learning is tailored to all.

It was a fun, fascinating and thoroughly engaging morning, and the perfect way to bring history vividly to life.