The sun truly came out for Year 4’s much anticipated History and Geography study visit and field trip to the Northumberland National Park this week!  Their first stop was a picnic lunch at Housesteads, Britain’s most complete Roman fort situated right on Hadrian’s Wall.  Here, they were able to explore the remains of the barrack blocks, commander’s house, granaries and latrines which were part of daily life for the troops controlling the northernmost border of the empire.

      There followed a challenging walk along Hadrian’s Wall starting with an ascent of the famous Cat Stairs at Steel Rigg, where the Romans’ determination to assert their authority was demonstrated by the Wall being built straight over a massive outcrop of the Whin Sill.  This was a great opportunity for the girls to test their RESILIENCE on a steep climb, to apply the OS map reading skills learnt recently at school, and to consolidate their classroom learning about the scale of the Rome’s ambition - all within the setting for their current set text, Across the Roman Wall.

      A visit to the nearby Roman Army Museum completed Day One; here the girls saw the legions’ mighty armour and gruesome weaponry up close!

      After overnighting at YHA The Sill, the residential ended with a study visit to the archaeological site of Roman Vindolanda – a fort and village where the anaerobic nature of the subsoil has led to wooden and leather artefacts (usually lost to decay) being preserved.  The sheer scale and range of 2,000 year old ruins and recovered objects to be seen at this live dig is mind blowing; the girls loved walking down the ancient streets, exploring the reconstructed fort and seeing excavations that are projected to last for another fifty years at least.

In all, two inspiring days of hands-on learning and making memories in the great British outdoors - well done, Year 4!