On Friday, Year 6 enjoyed a packed day of learning at the National Justice Museum, which boasts a Victorian courtroom, Georgian jail, and cells that date back hundreds of years.  This study visit links to the girls' History of Crime and Punishment topic and Suffragette home study project, investigating how attitudes have changed over time and how the justice system treated Emmeline Pankhurst when she was tried for incitement in 1913.

      In carefully-curated courtroom workshops, students recreated key moments in Mrs Pankhurst's trial, taking on the roles of the accused, judiciary, clerks, defence, prosecution, witnesses and jury.  Judges Ruqaya and Georgia kept order in their respective courtrooms, and in both mock trials the prosecution and defence teams stated their cases clearly - knowing that in real life, the redoubtable suffragette (played by Dina and Martha) was sentenced to nine months in HMP Holloway.

      The study visit also included a guided tour of the museum, meeting a Georgian jailer and Victorian matron to hear how punishment has evolved throughout British history, and examine primary sources of evidence such as handcuffs and holding cells.  Well done, Year 6, for engaging so well in every activity and for demonstrating deep thinking skills in your questioning, ready to apply your learning back in the classroom!