Thatcham Park Primary School

Year 4's Ufton Court residential trip 

What a visit! Year 4 had an amazing time at Ufton Court, immersing themselves in the history of the Vikings and Anglo-Saxon England. From voyaging in a long boat to distant shores, where they went berserk, to celebrating the life of the great Viking Sidrock at his funeral, our children truly got to experience the life and culture of the Vikings. They fought, they conquered, they feasted. Vikings at Ufton Court kept us all fully engaged and entertained throughout our time there, greeting us in character, teaching us a number of Viking skills and games, and helping us to dramatise well-known tales from the Viking Sagas.

Although not from the correct period of history, as Ufton Court itself is a 600 plus year old building from Tudor times, staying in the building enabled the children to experience history in a way that they never had before. Not only that, our children also demonstrated resilience and independence, staying in and working together with small room groups, from the basics of how to make a bed, to coping with anxieties and home sickness. Aside from the historical activities, the children were able to explore the stunning grounds at Ufton Court through activities such as photomapping, orienteering and a walk through their impressive woods.

Every child in Year 4 truly did us proud, modelling the excellent manners and high expectations of behaviour that they know we expect. Pupils reflected  the Thatcham Park value of encouraging and supporting one another to achieve throughout the trip. Where this was the first time staying away from home for many children, the experience allowed them to demonstrate their resilience and positive attitudes, challenging themselves to achieve in ways that they may not have done so before. The only thing that could have been a bit better was a tad more sleep…!