Expedition Day: (3) Shells step back in time

Our Shell pupils enjoyed a step back in time on Expedition Day visiting the Black Country Living Museum near Dudley.

Billed as the world's first industrial landscape, this West Midlands attraction always leaves a firm and favourable impression on pupils and staff, partly since the 26 acre site recreates the era so successfully.

Our pupils enjoy touring the village, interacting with the charismatic residents, whether they be the blacksmiths, shopkeepers, barge workers, housewives or tram drivers. Hearing the stories, playing the old fashioned games from an era without TV or computers, riding the trams, going down the mineshaft and attending the old village school classroom is always time well spent.

For staff, the visit is one of nostalgia for the more senior attendees and the fish and chips at lunchtime are oft spoken of in the staffroom, not just by our Head of Careers!

The museum says that 'history shouldn’t be seen as a safe haven in a fast changing and challenging world, but a catalyst for thinking and reflection about our own lives'. It is always true that this visit achieves this and our pupils definitely have an excellent thought-provoking time.

The visit prepares pupils for some cross-curricular work that is completed in class and at home over the second half of this term.

Photography courtesy of Mr Phillips (Boys' PE).