Learning enhanced on visits
Year 4 got to learn more about the Tudor era on a visit to a prominent Conwy landmark.
The Prep School group took an educational trip to Plas Mawr, where they took a tour of the building, which was built between 1576 and 1585 for the influential Welsh merchant, Robert Wynn.
During the visit the pupils were given a taste of how the house would have been run in the Elizabethan era by an actress taking up the role of Dorothy Wynn, former lady of the house.
They also got the chance to learn more about Tudor exploration and Sir Francis Drake, as Mr Wynn was a merchant and spent time at sea.
The children learnt all about the Wynn family and how the house was ran. Mrs Wynn- Parry, the harp teacher from school, played the role of Dorothy Wynn and took the children around her house and told them all about her wealthy, merchant husband who travelled around the world on board his ship.
In addition to a tour around the house, pupils were also given the opportunity to dress up in Tudor clothes and as part of a workshop surrounding food and medicine from the era, where they handled many genuine artefacts including leather jacks and pewter cups.
The Year 5 visited at Wilderhope Manor and Ironbridge over two days, and managed to take part in numerous activities during their stay.
Their first port of call was the Museum of the Gorge, where pupils learnt about the history of the area and the important part it played in the industrial revolution.
They then travelled the short distance to Jackfield tile museum where they had a tour of the museum, in addition to taking part in a workshop where they had the opportunity to create their own encaustic tile.
Following this the pupils visited the Ironbridge itself where they had the opportunity to sketch the bridge and learn a little more about its history and construction.
The following day the group visited Enginuity, an interactive design and technology centre where they toured around the exhibits and participated in a workshop.
Blists Hill Victorian Town was the final venue, and pupils took part in an Intaglio printing workshop in the morning followed by a relief printing workshop in the afternoon.
Mr McLeod, said: “This had once again been a superb trip to a fascinating part of the world and great credit must go to the pupils for their excellent behaviour in representing their school in such fine fashion, as well as to the accompanying staff for making this such a great trip all round.”
Year 6 pupils' took part in a pair of educational Heritage Walks around Colwyn Bay, where they have been finding out about the history of various landmarks and the town in general.
During their walks they learnt about the development of the town in the late 19th and early 20th century, which included when Rydal Mount and Penrhos College were founded and a study of the main commercial areas of the town.
Among the interesting facts they discovered were that the Station Pub was built in 1870 and was originally called the Station Hotel, since it would have been visible across an open field from the railway station.
Theatr Colwyn - built in 1885 - became the first 'picture house' in 1909 making it the oldest operating cinema in the UK.
Year 1 visited Erddig Hall, a National Trust property on the outskirts of Wrexham on Wednesday, May 24.
During the trip they found out more about both the similarities and differences between homes of today and ones resided in more than a century ago.
Pupils and teachers also had the opportunity to dress as servants and set to work in the laundry room, kitchen, stables and the bothy, where the boy servants would have slept.
Mr McDuff, said: “The pupils all had a fabulous time, although they all agreed that life in the 1900’s was extremely tiring.
“We are fortunate that Rydal Penrhos is situated in an area with an incredible history, and trips like this give our young pupils the chance to broaden their minds and see just what has gone before them in the exact area where they live."
The Year 3 and 4 classes at Rydal Penrhos visited Preston Montford, a field studies centre situated in the North West of England.
During the excursion there was plenty for the eager learners’ to apply themselves to, including nature walks, in addition to exploring the vast countryside in a series of fun-filled and testing activities.
There was also a special exploring competition with the winning team of Zack Coverley, Will Hibbert and Adam Williams receiving a tasty bar of chocolate for their efforts.
The group also got to fish for all creatures great and small in a special river activity, where they were tasked with identifying different species and recording their findings for documentation purposes.
Their creative nous was also put to the test in an outdoor environment thanks to a special designing task using nothing but twigs and plants found in their surroundings.
Mr McDuff, said: “These trips are a great way to learn in a different environment while having fun with your classmates in the process."