APS News No. 22

abingdon.org.uk/prep 5 Year 5: The Victorian Living Museum Abingdon Prep Out and About Year 5 pupils, who are investigating how life for Victorian children changed over time, visited the Victorian Living Museum, Dudley. We descended into the coal mine, exposing the boys to the cramped and dangerous conditions experienced by young Victorians, complete with an explosion showing how coal was dislodged from the seams. Happily, we emerged Year 4 walk the Ridgeway unscathed, albeit after a shorter shift than our Victorian counterparts. The schoolroom gave the opportunity to write with slate and chalk, and to recite the alphabet and tables, as well as experiencing some Victorian discipline! The boys also visited a selection of Victorian era shops and houses to see and hear demonstrations of Victorian housekeeping and toiletry habits. Purple tongues did result from the trip to the sweet shop, although we were glad to report there was no arsenic in the confectionery, as in the 1800s. A final highlight was watching a blacksmith at work in the forge. Sparks really did fly. A successful trip, and in no small part owing to the good attention and questions posed by the boys. The sun shone on the Year 4 boys during their overnight trip hiking on the Ridgeway in September. Over two days they walked nearly 14 miles, staying overnight at a hostel where they enjoyed playing in the woods and slept well! All boys showed resilience and teamwork over the course of this great trip, as well as having the chance to build new and existing friendships. Year 8’sGeography field trip themewas coastal geomorphology. On the first day, the pupils visited Durdle Door, Stair Hole and Lulworth Cove, studying features of a concordant coastline. The day after, in testing weather conditions, they examined a discordant coastline getting up close to Old Harry Rocks and the Pinnacles, and investigating the Year 8 Dorset Field Trip changing profile of Studland Beach. On the final rather rainy day, the boys visited Corfe Castle. A successful trip, and a memorable one for the richness of its landscapes, coastal features and… its dramatic weather!