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In September, pupils from Norwich Steiner School saddled up and headed for the north Norfolk coast on a four day cycle trip. Elder Class, who are all aged 12-13 years, cycled from Norwich to Stiffkey on the north Norfolk coast to help them gain a better understanding of earlier explorers’ journeys to distant lands. On average covering 12 miles a day over the four-day journey, the travellers also camped, setting up their tents and cooking their own meals.

School Pupils Saddle up for a Voyage of Discovery!

In Steiner schools, young teenagers study the Age of Discovery, when Europeans first made journeys to other continents and it is commonly seen as a good time for the youngsters to experience a journey made using their own effort.

Class teacher Michael Higgins said: “Later in this academic year, the children will be learning about the extensive transatlantic voyages that were made in the 15th and 16th centuries by Europeans seeking to explore and exploit new lands.

“The children’s recent journey has been more to do with seeing something familiar, Norfolk and it’s coastline, from a different point of view. To begin a trip by getting on a bicycle close to your school only to finally dismount several days later having reached the sea, is a wonderful experience for children just beginning to have to embark on life in the wider world.”

He added: “Even though it was school as normal on Monday, I was reminded with regard to the children, of that line from T. S Eliot: ‘And the end of all our journeying will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time’”.

The first part of the journey was on Norfolk County Council’s Marriot’s Way, a disused railway line which has been renovated for cycling and walking. This allowed the children to gain confidence in cycling as a group and over a distance.

The second and third part of the journey involved cycling along public roads and for this the class benefitted greatly from the cycling proficiency training which had been provided in July by a Norfolk County Council training officer, Richard Wiseman.

Games teacher Sandie Tolhurst said: “The campsites were incredibly supportive and welcoming of the children, and a local taxi cab company kindly provided transport for the camping equipment between sites.

“Car drivers were also considerate. The weather was wonderful and the children felt a real sense of achievement by the time they reached Stiffkey.

“The cycling ability of the group varied tremendously from those who regularly cycle to one member of the group who had only learnt to ride a bicycle at Easter.”

Talking Trees

Our newsletter Talking Trees now appears four times a year. It contains a diversity of information, ranging from administative announcements to reflections upon Steiner pedagogy, via progress updates on School projects, teachers' reports from the classroom, reviews of events and much else. You can download recent editions here. March 2011   November 2010   July 2010   May 2010

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