Today, our Year 4 children were transported back to the 19th century for an immersive Victorian Day. Dressed in period-appropriate outfits, they experienced first-hand what school life was like during the reign of Queen Victoria. From the moment they arrived, our young Victorians were met with the strict discipline of the era. They sat in rows, worked in silence, and even faced the stern expressions of their teachers, who fully embraced their Victorian roles! The children were quite surprised at how firm their teachers were—while the teachers were equally impressed by just how quiet the children could be! Throughout the day, the children took part in a range of activities that would have been typical for Victorian schoolchildren. They practiced writing in ink, a challenging but exciting experience and they also tried their hand at sewing, a key skill for many Victorian children, and discovered how patience and precision were essential. The experience didn’t stop in the classroom—Victorian games added to the fun, giving the children a break from the rigid discipline. They also explored the differences in schooling between rich and poor children, gaining a deeper understanding of the social structure of the time. Experiential learning like this is a fantastic way to bring history to life, helping children to engage with the past in a meaningful way. It fosters curiosity, deepens their historical understanding, and inspires future learning opportunities. A huge thank you to our Year 4 teachers for making this day so memorable and to our parents for organising costumes. We wonder if the children would like to swap their modern classroom for a Victorian one… but we suspect they’re rather happy to return to 21st-century schooling tomorrow!