Year 6 were enthralled by their visit to Hampton Court Palace yesterday; I have genuinely never heard so many gasps of awe and wonder when we stepped foot in The Great Hall. The children were truly shocked by the sheer size and grandeur of this residence but equally loved exploring the meaning behind some of the more intricate details too - the entwined initials H and A which were carved into the wood in The Great Hall to resemble Henry’s love for his wife Anne Boleyn, for whom he built the vast room.

The children were incredibly well behaved throughout the trip and enjoyed retracing Henry VIII’s steps through the never-ending corridors. Particular areas of interest included Henry VIII’s kitchens and the Royal Chapel, where the heart of one of Henry’s wives heart is said to be buried. I wonder if the children can remember and tell you more?

Alongside exploring the palace itself, the children took part in an intriguing workshop called ‘Investigating Henry’. This session, which was led by the staff at Hampton Court, encouraged the children to think critically and evaluate a variety of primary and secondary sources to help them understand more about the kind of man Henry was. Using replica artefacts and excerpts from contemporary Tudor sources, the children were curious to weigh up the evidence and construct a balanced opinion of Henry VIII by asking key enquiry questions. It was fascinating to find out that there is more to Henry VIII than the popular stereotypes!

We are sure that the children were eager to share the facts they had learned and describe the array of artefacts witnessed as throughout the trip the children demonstrated such excitement and a genuine love of learning about this historical period, immersing themselves in Tudor life within the walls of Hampton Court Palace. Take a look at some of the photos from today to find out more…