A extremely busy Educational Visits day for Year 5!

09.06.2025

Last week, Year 5 embarked on an unforgettable educational visit to Oxford, visiting both the Pitt Rivers Museum and the Museum of Natural History. It was a day packed with discovery, curiosity and fantastic learning!

At the Pitt Rivers Museum, the girls took part in an enriching workshop focused on displays of power in African civilisations, with a special spotlight on the Kingdom of Benin (about which they are currently learning in History). They explored how power was shown and maintained by rulers, especially the Oba, the powerful king of Benin. The girls were particularly fascinated by the Benin Bronzes – remarkable metal plaques and sculptures that tell stories of royal life, battles, rituals, and tradition. The intricate detail of these bronzes and how they symbolise the Oba’s divine status left a lasting impression on everyone.

Next door in the Museum of Natural History, the girls were equally captivated. They were excited to explore the dazzling array of rocks and minerals, learning to identify different types and what they can tell us about the Earth’s past. The insect displays also sparked a lot of interest, with many girls bravely getting up close to study beetles, butterflies and even live stick insects and cockroaches…although Madame Bugnet is less convinced about 5B’s request for class pet cockroaches!

The staff at both museums were full of praise for the girls. They showed exemplary standards of behaviour, asked thoughtful questions and listened attentively throughout the visit. Several guides commented on how impressed they were with the girls’ enthusiasm and maturity. True ambassadors for the High March!