Pre-Prep Victorian Day

Entering into the spirit of the day both children and staff dressed up in period costumes as they prepared to step back in time to the Victorian era.

Would the children enjoy their day as a Victorian child being seen and not heard?! The children undertook their lessons in true Victorian style-sitting in rows, facing the front and practising their 3Rs on chalk boards making sure no one got anything wrong and having to wear the dunces cap! Much chanting was done to reinforce their tables and any one fidgeting would end up wearing the back brace or being called a fidget. During Mr. Northcott assembly Henry W. was punished by receiving a ‘pretend’ caning, which he took with a stiff upper lip!

We were very grateful to have Mr. Hargreaves, who worked at S. Anselms for over 50 years, come to a special assembly. He recounted stories, events and memoirs for the children about life at S. Anselms across the ages. After a busy morning the children tucked into a hearty Victorian lunch; stew and dumplings, ready for the afternoon activities.

As part of the day Year Two took a trip around the school finding out about how the school had changed over the years and filling in their questionnaires. Many of the artefacts borrowed from the school archives gave a really interesting and informative insight into what the school was like in by gone days. They enjoyed looking at old photos of the school and comparing them with the changes that have taken place.

The children enjoyed making a time line of key events in the Pre-Preps recent past. After having a gruelling lesson on deportment the Year One children headed off outside to play with olden day toys. Reception also had a lovely day and thoroughly enjoyed joining in and playing parlour games with Mrs. Caudwell and produced a lovely decoupage.

We would like to thank all of the parents who provided the children with such super costumes. We were also very grateful to the Old House Museum, for supplying such wonderful artefacts for us to look at.

A fantastic day was had by all!