On Monday 7th November, Year 4 boys from Papplewick School, Ascot, visited Fishbourne Roman Palace near Chichester in West Sussex. This is the site of an excavated Roman Palace, with remains of incredible mosaic floors, ruins of the Palace's baths and beautiful gardens.
They had an interview session with a Roman Soldier, in full armour and with weapons. The rest of the visit involved the boys in writing their name and age in Latin with ink; making a mini mosaic; cooking in a Roman kitchen; a problem-solving activity to make a mini arched bridge; playing with Roman children's games (an early version of 'checkers' for example) and dressing as a Roman slave - with one lucky boy being dressed in 'royal' purple as Emperor!
Tom Bunbury, headmaster, said: “The visit was full of fascinating activities, and the boys all learned a lot about how the Romans lived.”
About Papplewick
http://www.papplewick.org.uk
Papplewick is a day, weekly, and full boarding preparatory school for around 200 boys between the ages of 6 and 13. Situated in 15 acres of land opposite Ascot Racecourse in Berkshire, Papplewick has an excellent record for academic achievement and feeds many of the UKs top independent senior schools including Eton, Harrow, Winchester, Wellington, Stowe and Bradfield.
In the last two years the school has maintained its academic record, gaining no less than 22 awards to top independent schools, including a King’s Scholarship to Eton. Through its strong commitment to sports, the school also builds skills of teamwork, sportsmanship and responsibility.
As well as academic, sporting and cultural excellence, Papplewick aims to provide boys with the confidence and security they need to fulfil their potential, and the school strives to promote enthusiasm for life, contribution to the community and kindness to others amongst all its pupils.
A recent (2013) report by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI) remarks that relationships between pupils and teachers are an outstanding strength of the school and are seminal in creating the strong sense of a mutually supportive and trusting community.