The children at Redwell Primary School in Wellingborough have been taking a timely look at the Coronation and reign of Queen Elizabeth II as they prepared to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee with their families and friends.
To mark the occasion, a new Jubilee garden has been created at the school. Designed as a wild garden, the area includes hedgehog houses, insect hotels, bee houses and a bench on which to sit and listen to the wind chimes that were a gift to the school when a previous headteacher left.
In addition, the children have spent time in the classroom learning about Her Majesty and about each decade since she came to the throne.
The youngest, in Reception, focused on the most recent years, with each year group going backwards in time to the Year 6 children studying the 1950s and the Coronation itself.
Claire Head, Principal at Redwell Primary School, said: “The children did pieces in various genres to retell the story of their particular decade. Year 6 wrote about the Coronation as a newspaper report from 1953, for instance.
“It’s been fun for the children to look back and find out more about the 70 years of Queen Elizabeth II and in setting up the Jubilee garden.”
One of the Year 6 pupils imagined her own version of a newspaper report from the time, including informing readers that:
“Queen Elizabeth arrived with Prince Philip at 9.46am. She was wearing an elegant silk, white gown and a shimmering diamond necklace.
“She was joined by her supporters inside Westminster Abbey, one year after she had her ascension to the throne.”
There was also a behind-the-scenes look at the events of the Coronation:
“The Queen already tried the crown on before the event just so she could get used to the feel of it as she knew it would be on her head for a long time.”
Looking into the events of the 1970s, the Year 4 pupils took a look back to the fashions and popular culture of the time:
“They had a heatwave and it lasted for lots of days and children got a silver coin for the Queen’s Silver Jubilee” and also that children had: “Lots of burgers and FAB lollies. They had ham, cheese, and the most popular burger was chicken. They also had fast food, which we still have today.”
Nene Education Trust is a multi-academy trust comprising Newton Road School in Rushden, Windmill Primary in Raunds, Stanwick Primary, Raunds Park Infants, St. Peter’s CE Junior, Woodford CE Primary, Redwell Primary in Wellingborough and Manor School in Raunds.
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For further information visit neneeducationtrust.org.uk
