Y7 Winchester Cathedral - Jan/Feb 2026

Our Year 7 students enjoyed two truly memorable and enriching visits to Winchester Cathedral this half term. Their behaviour throughout both days was outstanding, and they threw themselves wholeheartedly into every task and learning opportunity offered.

A particular highlight was the archaeology workshop, inspired by the remarkable excavation work currently taking place at the Cathedral. Students learned how archaeologists uncover and interpret history, then took part in their own “dig,” carefully unearthing replica artefacts. This hands‑on activity helped them understand the story behind the Cathedral’s scattered medieval remains—evidence of turbulent periods of religious change that disrupted centuries‑old burials.

The students also explored what life would have been like for a monk when Winchester was home to a thriving monastic community. They discovered that monks were not allowed to speak during mealtimes, so instead used a form of sign language. Students thoroughly enjoyed learning some of these historic signs for everyday items such as fruit, milk, bread and ale—an unusual and memorable insight into monastic life!

This year’s visits also included the breathtaking Sun installation, Helios, suspended high in the nave. Fun fact: Helios is created from around 400,000 real photographs of the Sun, using NASA observations and imagery from astrophotographer Dr Stuart Green, and its seven‑metre sphere is scaled so that every centimetre represents 2,000 km of the Sun’s surface—a truly awe‑inspiring sight.

They were wonderful trips—informative, inspiring, and thoroughly enjoyed by all!