PUPILS in Shildon are stepping back in time this month and reliving 19th century schooldays.
Year Five youngsters at St John’s Primary School are following a Victorian style curriculum for the next fortnight as part of their studies into the period.
Their classroom has been transformed into a Victorian style school room, complete with blackboard, chalk, and traditional teacher’s desk, which were donated by the Durham Learning Resources department.
Staff and pupils donned Victorian style clothes yesterday and today.
Under the authentic Victorian regime, pupils are limited to a fountain pen and pencil.
Computers and interactive devices will remain switched off for the next fortnight.
They will even undergo regular fingernail inspections, which teachers carried out daily 150 years ago.
Teacher Andrew Kay said: "The pupils have responded very well to this way of learning, and some children have even said they prefer it.
"I don’t think they realise that they are learning. So far, it is going very well."
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