Year 6 Visit Silchester

Salve Silchester; Vale Magister Lexton!  Our third trip to Roman Silchester was the co-founder Mr Lexton’s last, having led the Roman Army element with dictatorial swagger.  We circled the town walls and gathered at the South Gate, before dividing for two complementary sessions. 

One group would sit on the town walls overlooking the old centre and its 100 acres of buildings, imagining daily Roman life and the actual buildings and battlements of the town.  The other group would march with rugby tackle pads against an onslaught of tennis balls, protecting their standard bearer across enemy territory.  It’s creative classroom stuff! 

After a fried honey toast for buns, we re-enacted a day at the Games in Silchester’s amphitheatre.   Events: a beast fighter faces down a lion, tiger, bear and wolf;  three criminals and a crowd of Christians face down hungry lions; and two professional gladiators (still our boys dressed up) fight to the death… and our governor Mr Williams always puts his thumb down! 

Thank you to April and the kitchen staff for a massive Roman lunch back at school – it was fantastic.  This one is fast becoming a Year 6 favourite.