Session 3

Session 3 for ORA students staying at St Peter’s College was full of new experiences, new friends and new knowledge. A particular highlight for pupils was the trip to Hampton Court Palace.

Built by the notorious Cardinal Wolsey in the 16th Century, Hampton Court is brimming with Tudor tales. With the death of Wolsey, Henry VIII was so impressed by the splendour of the Palace that he took it for himself, with space for more than 30 guests. After the end of the Tudor Dynasty, Hampton Court hosted more history, with William III and Mary II adding an elegant baroque palace to the property, complete with extravagant gardens.

With so much history seeping from the brick walls, students wasted no time in taking photographs and learning about the ghosts and ghouls that supposedly roam the Palace in the midnight hours. Session 3 pupils were fascinated by the extravagant Palace and it was wonderful to see some real interest in the impressive history of this iconic British landmark.

Session 4

Now with Session 4 in full swing, ORA students staying at SPC can expect an equally thrilling trip to Windsor Castle next week and have already had a fascinating time in their CSI, Happening History and Zoolab Masterclasses. Pupils were transformed into scientists, knights and zoologists as they immersed themselves in their studies and worked together to create impressive results in each class.

CSI Masterclass

The CSI Masterclass saw students get dressed in white hazmat suits to brave the crime scene and gather clues. The opportunity for photos was not missed, with many students posing in their facemasks before becoming real scientists and crossing the yellow and black tape. Evidence was dusted for prints and fingerprints analysed in this realistic scenario, testing the diligence of ORA students. It was an incredibly engaging activity and many pupils were reluctant to leave their suits and masks behind.

Happening History Masterclass

With the Happening History Masterclass came the unusual opportunity to become a daring knight, dressing up in armour and learning to wield medieval swords. The demonstration was fearless and only the bravest knights volunteered to be the opposition. The chance to step into Britain’s history was thrilling for many of our students and left them with a newfound respect for the weight of armour, and the strength of knights in the past.

Zoolab

The Zoolab Masterclass is a recurring favourite with ORA students, giving them the opportunity to hold exotic animals from all over the world and learn more about these species. Many students got up close and personal with stick insects and frogs and some were even courageous enough to hold snakes! Learning more about some of these endangered species gave students an appreciation of the dangers of deforestation and the ways we can help to protect such amazing animals.

ORA students at SPC have already had a truly fascinating time in their first week, and there is so much more to come. The weekend takes Session 4 students to Stonehenge and the Roman Baths, two sites of extreme historical importance in England. Check back soon to see how they got on.