Form 5's History Adventure

Date: Wednesday 25 March 2009

Video Conference with the National Archives at Kent University

Pupils from Form 5 recently took part in a video conference with the National Archives Office at Kew Gardens on the subject of Children in the Mines. This event supported their History work on the Victorians Topic covered last term. The conference took the form of a role play with a representative from the Archives Office playing the part of a commissioner in Victorian Britain, finding out about conditions for children working in coal mines the 1840s.

In advance of this event children investigated various case studies, examining original evidence of what life was like for children working down the mines. Dressed as 19^th century mine workers, the children answered questions put to them by the commissioner and gained a real insight into the conditions that children as young as seven years old had to endure. Many worked 12 hour shifts or more in dark and difficult conditions, and attended school on Sundays only. The results of these surveys led to Acts of Parliament that gradually improved conditions and ultimately put an end to child labour.

After the role play another representative from the National Archives Office talked to the children about the work of the National Archives Office and answered questions from the children. Many thanks to Mr Southey (Head of History) for making the arrangements for this wonderful historical experience.