Year 6 Students Solve a Roman Mystery

Moving from primary to secondary school is a big step for any child. At The Bulmershe School, we like to make that transition as smooth and exciting as possible. Recently, we were pleased to welcome 30 Year 6 pupils from our local Woodley primary schools - Highwood, Rivermead, South Lake and Beachwood - for a special History Detective Day.

The goal of the day was simple: to give younger students a taste of secondary school life while having a lot of fun with history.

Becoming History Detectives

The challenge for the day was a "Mystery of the Skeletons". Two unknown skeletons had been discovered and it was up to our visitors to act as historians and archaeologists to find out who they were.

Working in mixed groups with children from different schools, the pupils had to look at a range of evidence. They studied photographs, handled artefacts and read through written sources. It was great to hear the students debating their ideas and asking thoughtful questions to solve the puzzle.

To help them along, we were joined by an expert from the Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology at the University of Reading. They provided some brilliant insights into the ancient world and helped the students connect their findings to the Roman era.

Creating a Museum

Once the students had gathered their evidence, they were tasked with building their own museum-style display. These exhibits focused on the Romans and the story of the two skeletons.

We were really impressed by the teamwork on display. Students who had only met that morning were working together like old friends to create their posters and presentations. In the afternoon, we invited parents to come into the school to see what the children had achieved. The students did a fantastic job of explaining their conclusions and showing off their hard work.

Celebrating Success with the Mayor

The day ended with a visit from Mayor David Bragg, who had the difficult job of picking the winners. Awards were given for Best Teamwork as well as overall First and Second place. While the awards were a nice bonus, the real success was seeing how much the students enjoyed themselves and how much confidence they gained throughout the day.

Our Sixth Form Role Models

An event like this would not be possible without the help of our older students. Twelve of our Sixth Form Humanities students spent the whole day supporting the Year 6 pupils. They acted as mentors, guided the research and encouraged the younger children whenever they got stuck. Our Sixth Formers were fantastic role models and showed the visiting pupils what a welcoming community we have here at Bulmershe.

Looking Ahead to Transition

Events like the History Detective Day are a key part of how we support our local "Woodley Cluster" of schools. By visiting us for a day of learning and fun, Year 6 students get to know our building, meet our staff and realize that secondary school is a place where they can thrive.

We would like to thank all the staff and students involved for making the day such a success. We look forward to seeing many of these faces again as they continue their journey toward Year 7!