Ratcliffian 2016 (LOWRES)

PREPARATORY SCHOOL
YEAR 6 TRIPS
Black Country Museum
Ella Clark
We went to the
Black Country
Museum as part
of our history
topic to learn
about how the
Victorians lived
and what life
was like for the
children living in Victorian times. There were lots of great
activities like having a Victorian school lesson, looking in the
houses, going on a canal trip. I also really enjoyed going to
the sweet shop.
Kingswood
Shreya Mistry
Warning Zone
Niara Popat
It was a great trip, because we learned about different
emergencies or situations. I enjoyed the dark alley where we
had to decide to go down it or to go onto the main street.
This was a great chance for Year 6 to learn about life.
Eyam
Harry Gamble
At Eyam, we learned about how the plague began. We then
walked around the village and discovered the stones with
holes in where Bakewell and Eyam delivered money and food.
The best part of the trip was watching a video showing how
the plague travelled from London to Eyam by horse and cart.
The Tailor’s son was the first person to die from the plague.
PREPARATORY SCHOOL
YEAR 6
The year started with an excited group of children ready to embrace the
teaching, learning and responsibilities that Year 6 brings. Within days,
the new children had made friends with the existing children, bonds had
started to develop and Team 6 was born!
Senior lessons began and so did the need to be organised,
as lessons were taught in both the Preparatory and the
Senior Schools. Homework and routines were quickly
established and the children had already performed in their
class assemblies, visited the Warning Zone and the River Lin
and it was only autumn half term!
Positions of Responsibility were awarded and commenced,
silly hats were made for the Christmas lunch, inter-class
volleyball was won by 6JK (much to Mrs Gilchrist’s
sadness as it meant the trophy had to move next
door for the year), and The Village Plague was
caught as the children and staff made their way
to Eyam. The first term was finished off with a
beautiful Carols by Candlelight service where
Year 6 had the chance to sing with the staff choir.
After the January Entrance Exams, Year 6 had
an amazing time at Alton Castle where they had time for
reflection and experience lots of activities, not to mention
spending three days and two nights in a castle! We were
fortunate to visit the living museum, The Black Country,
linking in with our Creative Curriculum studies of People
who made a difference. Seeing the original methods of
metal work and historical forms of medicine really made
the trip exciting and hugely beneficial, as we could see how
influential the Victorians really were.
The highlight of
the year was our
residential trip to
Kingswood. This
was a chance
to experience
living away from
home, learn to
be independent
(including
making beds!)
and tackle a multitude of exciting
activities, including outdoor climbing,
archery, and go-karting. We visited
the nearby beach, not only to have fun
but also to see first-hand the features of
coastal erosion and the sea defences that
were in place.
Summer term is also the time when Year 6 students
perform their drama production. This year it was William
Shakespeare’s The Tempest. The chorus of sprites,
hobgoblins, shipwrecked sailors and lead characters
all pulled together for a magical evening.
Mrs N Gilchrist, Mr G Coleman and Mrs J Cartwright
In May all of Year 6 took a residential trip to Kingswood in
West Runton, Norfolk. We had the chance to take part in all
sorts of activities such as: the zip wire, team games, Laser
tag and many more. My favourite activity was the zip wire,
because it was something I have never done before and
something I wouldn’t usually do. Kingswood was a place
that encouraged and supported Year 6; we bonded together
to have trust in each other within a lot of our activities.
Many of our activities were quite challenging; however with
the help of our kind staff, we overcame them. Kingswood
gave us all a chance to make new friends and to improve
our independence. We also went to Kingswood to learn
about Coasts,
which definitely
developed our
knowledge. Year
6 had a wonderful
time and made
many memories.
24
25