Raiding the Rails! A Viking Voyage to Gloucester

At Stratton C of E Primary School, education extends beyond the classroom walls, especially when it comes to bringing history to life. Recently, its Year 4 students embarked on an unforgettable journey through time, courtesy of Platform. The trip’s objective? To dive into the world of the Vikings, aligning seamlessly with their current curriculum focus. Ahead of the journey, Florence had visited the school for a pre-travel rail safety and confidence workshop, serving to extol the many positives of rail travel whilst equipping the class with a sound understanding of the dangers present on the railway and how easily these are avoided by following a few simple rules. 

Fast forward to 30th April and the most happy of sights as parents dropped off their children at Kemble Station, all bubbling with anticipation for the day ahead. Imogen was there to greet them and put their rail safety knowledge to the test with a quiz. Their enthusiastic and rapid recall of the key information they had learnt in their workshop set the tone for the day ahead.

Crossing the bridge to Platform 2, they took a moment to appreciate the beautifully preserved Kemble Station and the stunning countryside that surrounds it. Once on board and settled comfortably in Coach B for their journey to Gloucester, they experienced a hands-on lesson in being polite, responsible and law-abiding passengers as their mock tickets were checked by Imogen in role as a train guard. This small activity – an established feature of the Platform experience – serves to emphasise the importance of travel etiquette and accountability.

Upon arrival at Gloucester, having picked Florence up en route in Stroud, Imogen led the group on a tour of the city’s historical landmarks, from the Roman remains of the city walls to the towering Gloucester Cathedral. This provided invaluable context for the rest of their visit, with Florence taking the baton at St Oswald’s Priory to put the Vikings centre stage, shedding light on their motivations and fearsome reputation. The students eagerly assumed Viking or Anglo-Saxon personas, immersing themselves in the era’s culture and customs. The group paused for lunch at Northgate Hall before returning to the Priory for a re-enactment of the 915 AD Viking battle at Gloucester. Guided by Florence, the students learned about Queen Aethelflaed’s strategic prowess in repelling the Viking threat.

Full of newfound knowledge and memories of a day well-spent, they made their way back to Gloucester Station for the return journey. On board the train, each student received a copy of ‘Arlo’s Adventures’, a fun way to apply their rail safety awareness and a lasting memento of their time with Platform. For the students of Stratton C of E Primary School, this rail education excursion was more than just a field trip: it was a journey through time, igniting curiosity and fostering a deeper appreciation for history – and rail travel, of course.  “What an incredible day! Being able to combine a vital opportunity for students and their teachers to practise their rail safety and build their confidence in travelling by train with a fantastic and memorable curriculum-linked day out is what Platform is all about. It was wonderful to be able to highlight a snippet of the amazing local history that can be reached by rail within Gloucestershire. I was mightily impressed by the enthusiasm of the Stratton students throughout, their intelligent and thought-provoking questions, and their excellent listening. I am so grateful to GWR for providing the complimentary train travel so this enriching trip could go ahead at no cost to the school. And to top it all off, it didn’t even rain!”- Imogen Sackett, Learning Development Manager, Platform

“Imogen and Florence were amazing! The day was planned very well and their time management was great. The children were soon put at ease on the train as a few of them were quite anxious. Their subject knowledge of the Anglo Saxons and Vikings was impressive. All of the activities were thoroughly planned and delivered with enthusiasm. Going the extra mile and organising somewhere indoors for our lunch so the children could wash their hands and go to the toilet was very thoughtful.”
– Vicki Brosch, Year 4 Teacher, Stratton C of E Primary School