Tudor Primary Project
The RGS Tudor Project makes use of the School's Tudor heritage to provide an academic enrichment day in order to support History teaching in local Primary Schools.
Hosted the majority of Monday’s throughout the year, in 2018-19 the Primary Tudor Project was attended by over 600 pupils from local schools within our catchment area from Chilworth up to Weybridge who study the Tudors. Schools bring their entire Y4 or Y5 year group one class at a time. RGS pay for the transport to bring the pupils to the RGS so that the Primary schools get a school trip for free.
The visiting pupils experience an introduction to Tudor education and the 'Chained Library' from the Headmaster, a Tudor music and dance session, a Tudor art session, Tudor weapons and finally a movie making session in the ICT suite.
Aims
1) To provide an enrichment experience to enhance the History curriculum in local schools who study the Tudors
2) To provide a free experience to local Primary schools
Background
RGS Guildford was founded in 1509 at the start of the reign of Henry VIII. However the school was financially rescued by King Edward VI hence being formally known as 'King Edward VI's Royal Grammar School'. The Tudor buildings from this period are still used being at the heart of the school and indeed the Headmaster's Study is the original Chained Library.
For over 15 years we have invited local Primary schools to visit these buildings, to learn about the School's History and to undertake Tudor themed lessons.
Resources
RGS Staff - Headmaster, four RGS teachers, Administrator and host.
Timetabled lessons for teaching staff and one day per week time for administration.
School facilities: Chained Library, Big School (Tudor Hall), Art department, Sixth Form centre, ICT Suite.
Transport: RGS pay for all coaches to transport pupils to RGS.
Annual cost of this is c.£4,500 (not including staff time.)
Impact
Every year we gather huge quantities of feedback from individual pupils and staff. Comments such as:
"I just wanted to personally say a huge thank you to all the teachers, and especially yourself, for giving the Y5 children such a fantastic Tudor Day experience. They all thoroughly enjoyed it. They loved Dr Cox’s talk, and everything they learnt about the chained books. They thought he was very funny!” Trip Leader
“I really enjoyed the dancing because I didn’t know what Tudor dancing was like.”
"I especially enjoyed the Movie Maker, it was really fun and I learnt loads.”
“My favourite was Art…I loved that if you look at a squashed picture (anamorphosis) at an angle it looks normal”
“Technology was so cool because the caterpots (sic) were so cool."
“I really enjoyed the chained library because I didn’t know that some books got chained up. Also the Headmaster was really nice and jolly.”
“I really enjoyed the wonderful trip – I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.”
“I am writing to say thank you for inviting me to your incredible school and for letting me use your amazing facilities. I learnt so very much and would love to come back again”
Pupil Involvement
c.600 Y4 and Y5 pupils (depending on which year group study Tudors.)
Frequency
Weekly trip for 2 terms.
Ongoing project.