Year 4 pupils at Holyhead Primary Academy stepped back in time to explore Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain during a visit to Bishops Wood Centre.
Children took part in a range of interactive activities designed to bring early Britain to life, from discovering how Anglo-Saxon settlements were built to learning how Viking raids shaped communities across Britain. Throughout the experience, pupils showed strong curiosity and enthusiasm, asking thoughtful questions and making meaningful connections with their classroom learning. They were particularly engaged when exploring how people in the past lived, adapted and survived using the resources available to them, gaining a deeper understanding of everyday life in Anglo-Saxon and Viking Britain.
Bishops Wood Centre is a 39-hectare outdoor learning site near Stourport-on-Severn. The centre, which includes areas of ancient woodland, restored meadowlands and diverse natural habitats, is nationally recognised for its work with schools in environmental education and outdoor learning.
School Principal, Natalie Shipley, said: “History has the greatest impact when children can move beyond reading about the past and begin to experience it for themselves, making learning more memorable and meaningful. Experiences like this help pupils develop a much deeper understanding of, and curiosity about, the people, events and decisions that shaped the world around them. They also encourage children to think critically, ask questions, analyse evidence and challenge assumptions, skills that extend far beyond the history curriculum.”
The visit formed part of the Academy’s commitment to experiential learning, using educational visits to deepen understanding, enrich the curriculum and encourage pupils to become thoughtful, informed learners.
