Year 5 Experience The V&A

Last Friday, Year 5 enjoyed an exciting, art-inspired trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, with Mrs Wheeler, Mr O’Kelly, Madame Early and Mrs Goedkoop. Armed with their sketchbooks, the children followed a special itinerary designed by Madame Early to help them make the most of the museum’s seven miles of galleries!

Their first stop was the Cast Courts, where they were amazed by the sheer scale of many of the exhibits, some of which formed part of the original museum collection. Pupils selected statues and sculptures to sketch, choosing either to focus on intricate details or to capture the entire piece. The children were particularly intrigued by the more anatomical sculptures – especially the famous statue of David. They were fascinated to learn that a plaster fig leaf had once been created to cover David’s modesty during Queen Victoria’s visit!

The group also explored the Japan Gallery, where they took their time studying and sketching patterns inspired by the beautiful kimonos, ceramics and decorated boxes on display.

In the Theatre Gallery, the children were delighted to recognise costumes from Matilda, Wicked!, Wonka and The Lion King. Trying on some of the costumes was a definite highlight!

The visit concluded in the Ceramics Gallery, where each pupil selected a teapot or bowl with an interesting shape and captured it in a careful, observational sketch.

It was a wonderfully enriching day, full of creativity, curiosity and hands-on learning and they were a delightful and engaged group of pupils, a real credit to the school.