The end of week 1 and the beginning of week 2 has already thrown ORA students at Clare College straight into English culture with a trip to Hampton Court Palace, whilst they tested their singing abilities at Karaoke.
Hampton Court Palace
Hampton Court Palace is a cornerstone of English history, housing famous royals from King Henry VIII to Charles I. Constructed originally in the early 16th Century, the Palace has undergone many changes and adjustments under its various owners, including a Baroque Palace, added in the 18th Century, a canal created in the 17th Century and landscaping consistently shifting all along.
Spanning so many centuries of history meant that our students had the opportunity to learn about many different architectural styles, as well as the ways in which British history has affected sites like Hampton Court. The artwork was another key feature of the Palace that pupils found intriguing, with pieces like ‘The Field of the Cloth of Gold’ proving popular due to the intricate detail. Our students took some great photos of the Palace, some of which can be found below.
Having explored the Palace, students took to the outdoors to explore the maze and gardens. The maze appeared at the Palace in the 18th Century and has provided hours of entertainment for visitors since. Our pupils loved the twisting corners and tall hedges that constantly foiled their efforts to reach the mysterious centre of the maze. Eventually, everyone made it to the middle and had exhausted themselves whilst doing so!
A wonderful day filled with English history and tradition was perfect for our students, many of whom appreciated learning more about eras of the past that they had not previously considered.
Karaoke
Pupils gathered in the auditorium this week to impress each other with their amazing and hilarious singing skills. Pairs, soloists and groups all took to the stage to sing songs in an assortment of languages and amuse the audience, creating loud laughter throughout the hall. Many people joined in with the songs they knew, lending a supportive voice to their comrades on the stage.
With killer classics from bands like Queen and the Scissor Sisters, it was almost impossible to not want to sing aloud and have a dance, as many of our students did. The evening was great fun and a good way for everyone to let off steam after a hard day’s work.
Photography and Sketching Trip
Taking inspiration from the Cambridge Botanical Gardens, pupils grabbed their cameras and sketchbooks and had an afternoon trip to find their muse and artistic inspiration.
Flowers were a popular subject for artists and photographers alike, who carefully inspected the impressive range of plants in the Gardens. With the sun shining, it was the perfect opportunity for everyone to enjoy some time outdoors and use their imagination in their botanical drawings.
Bright colours were popular, with some using pencils and others gripping crayons to create the desired effects. As our photographers were snapping away and capturing gorgeous images of insects and plants, our artists were busy sketching and colouring their subjects, much to their satisfaction.
ORA’s Got Talent
Alongside St Catharine’s College, students at Clare College gathered to impress and surprise their peers with hidden talents.
The audience was amazed by the musical talents of the evening, with guitarists, pianists and singers all emerging with extraordinary talent. The amusing dance groups were also wonderful, causing lots of laughter as they entertained the crowd and proving to be the greatest showmen.
Other weird and wonderful skills included quick Rubik’s Cube solving, comedy shows and dramatic reading, ending the evening on a high and topping off a jolly night.
With so much fun erupting from Clare College, stay tuned to hear what ORA students get up to in their final few days.
