PUPILS from five South Yorkshire primary schools created maps of Wonderland, produced fancy hats and made new friends as Swinton Academy held a taster day for prospective students.
READ MORE: Swinton Academy students unveil unique display of poppies to mark Armistice Day
The Rotherham secondary school’s ‘Mad Hatter’s Tea Party’ was the first of three open days planned for Year 5 pupils at nearby feeder primary schools. A science-themed open day and an Arts, Design and Technology day are scheduled for 2020.
Staff from the English and Humanities faculties at Swinton Academy dressed as their favourite characters from Lewis Carroll’s 1865 novel, Alice in Wonderland. Lessons were themed around the classic tale, which tells the tale of a girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar creatures such as the Cheshire Cat and Queen of Hearts.
Over 170 nine and 10-year-olds from St Thomas CofE Primary, Swinton Fitzwilliam, Brookfield Junior Academy, Swinton Queen Primary and Kilnhurst Primary School – who are currently being taught at Swinton Fitzwilliam and Brookfield after their school was badly hit by the recent floods – attended the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party.
Helen Marshall, Swinton Academy’s Assistant Vice Principal, said: “This is the fifth year that we have held these ‘taster’ days for local primary schools – and it was wonderful seeing all the children leave Swinton with a smile on their faces.
“It’s a great way for pupils from these schools to get to know each other.
“Each activity we organised was themed around Alice in Wonderland. We had youngsters creating their own maps of Wonderland, making hats for the tea party and reading extracts from the book.
“We had help from students at our school and, at the end of the day, everyone enjoyed watching a specially created video compilation showing their activities throughout the day.
“It was delightful seeing the children enjoying the film and the hall was full of laughter.”
ENDS
For more details contact Kerry Ganly at Penguin PR by ringing 07734 723951 or emailing [email protected]
