Reading, Berkshire — Friday 23rd January 2026
Otter's class had a fantastic educational day out this week during their school trip to Reading Town Hall Museum, where they took part in the museum’s celebrated Victorian Schoolroom Experience.

The outing was designed to bring history alive by giving pupils a hands-on taste of what school life was like in the Victorian era. Set up in the historic Victorian schoolroom at the museum’s Abbey Gateway — part of Reading Museum adjacent to the Town Hall — the session allowed Otters class to step back in time and learn about education in the 19th century.

Under the guidance of a costumed instructor portraying a Victorian teacher, the children had the chance to practise writing with traditional dip pens and ink, try their hand at slate writing, and follow instructions much as Victorian pupils once did. Many pupils also dressed in replica period costumes, which helped bring the experience vividly to life.

Teachers praised the session for its engaging mix of history and active learning, noting how enthusiastic the children were throughout the visit. Pupils left with a deeper understanding of how schooling has changed over time, and how the everyday classroom experience of children in the past compared with their own.

Reading Museum’s Victorian Schoolroom programme is a long-standing and popular educational activity that supports the national curriculum’s history learning goals, giving pupils an unforgettable glimpse into a very different kind of classroom.