Pupils from Kings Park Academy took part in an exciting experiment to re-create the great fire of London as part of a history project.
Pupils at King’s Park Academy marked the end of a school project by watching their work go up in smoke.
Year one pupils at the Ambitions Academies Trust-owned school in Ashley Road Bournemouth, have been studying the Great Fire of London, which started in a humble bakery in Pudding Lane, in 1666.
Year one teacher Rebekah Wilson, explained: “As part of the topic, the children, who are all aged five and six, were tasked with making models of Tudor houses with the help of their families.
“They built some amazing models and asked if we could recreate the Great Fire with them, so we arranged it as a ‘Great Fire of King’s Park’.”
The Great Fire of London gripped the capital between September 2-5, 1966, destroying the homes of 70,000 of the city’s 80,000 inhabitants, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral and many other significant buildings.
The Great Fire of King’s Park took place under the close supervision of the school’s site manager and AAT’s fire officer and at a safe distance from school buildings.
Ms Wilson added: “As the fire was started the children all sang London’s Burning in rounds and were wowed as the flames spread from house to house, just like it would have done in 1666. They were very excited to see how quickly the fire engulfed their model street.”
Alex Prout, Director of Early Years Education at Ambitions Academies Trust, said: “I must admit I had my misgivings when the children said they wanted to start a fire at school! But of course it as all done perfectly safely and it was clear to see just how fascinated the children were by the topic.
“We also saved some of their amazing model houses and these will be displayed in school for all to see.”
King’s Park Academy is part of Ambitions Academy Trust (AAT).
AAT is renowned for transforming under performing schools and has taken St Aldhelm’s Academy, Poole, out of special measures and Queen’s Park Academy in Bournemouth from special measures to Outstanding.
Media information, please contact Debbie Granville, Deep South Media, tel: 01202 534487 or email: debbie.granville@deepsouthmedia.co.uk
