Victorians and Vikings take over Crowborough school

FANCY dress days for pupils at a Crowborough school marked the end of a term spent learning about the lives of Victorians and Vikings.

On Monday, Year Six pupils at Herne Junior School donned frilly dresses, shorts and flat caps for a day of Victorian-style learning.

Teacher James Didcott said: "We have been studying the Victorians this term so we thought it would be a good idea to finish off and give the kids a bit more of a feel for it in terms of getting dressed up and acting it out."

Throughout the term the children have been learning all about the Victorian way of life, and on Monday they were taught in the same way that the children of the era would have been educated.

In the morning the pupils were given Victorian names, their desks were lined up in the classroom and every time a teacher came in they had to stand up.

Mr Didcott said: "They were taught in the Victorian fashion – quite strict."

He added: "They loved it, and actually they really got into it."

On Tuesday the Year Five children came to school dressed as Vikings and spent the day taking part in themed activities such as candle making, weaving and lamp making.

They also learned about how the Vikings would have treated a variety of different ailments, a gruesome subject much enjoyed, according to teacher Joanne Seymour.

Mrs Seymour explained that a range of different learning skills had been incorporated into the Viking term, including geography, English and art.

She said it was a "really fun way to learn about history", adding: "It was just something that we wanted to do right at the end to celebrate everything that the children have learned. I was very impressed. They really make an effort and they looked fantastic."

It is the first time that children have dressed up at the end of term at the school, according to both teachers.

Mrs Seymour said: "They absolutely loved it."