UII (Year 5) girls went back in time this week to enjoy a few lessons in true Victorian style at the Museum of Reading. The girls began by dressing in the characteristic white pinafore smocks and very soon learned just how strict Victorian teachers were in matters of neatness, sitting up straight and certainly only speaking when spoken to! Such was the convincing role played by the Victorian schoolmarm that the girls were worried when the traditional punishments of the cane and the dunce hat were threatened. The girls improved their handwriting skills using traditional pen and ink and even learned to calculate using pre-decimal money. The experience was complemented by an authentic Victorian packed lunch which for most girls consisted of bread, cheese and, if they were very lucky, cold tea in a jam-jar!