Year Two enjoyed a visit to Locomotion in Shildon, where they explored the fascinating history of rail travel. The children began their day with a walk around both the main hall and the new hall, taking time to look closely at the impressive collection of locomotives. They were especially excited to spot trains connected to our local area, and a particular highlight was getting a close look at the famous Black Five locomotive. The children enjoyed an immersive learning talk from one of the volunteers and gained a deeper understanding about how steam trains worked. They were amazed by its size and engineering.

During the visit, the children learned more about George Stephenson and his famous locomotive, The Rocket, which has strong links to our local region. They found it exciting to discover that such an important part of railway history was created so close to home. This helped them make connections to their learning in class and sparked lots of enthusiastic conversations about how trains have changed over time. Year Two also learned about his life, his inventions, and why he remains such an important figure in railway history. They asked thoughtful questions and enjoyed activities that deepened their understanding of early locomotives.

Year Two returned to school inspired and eager to continue their work on learning about change makers in their History topic. They upheld the school’s values throughout the visit, proudly demonstrating our mission statement: aspire not to have more, but to be more.