Taste of Victorian school life

ELLACOMBE Academy youngsters have stepped back in time to celebrate their school's 150th anniversary.

The school's 225 pupils dressed in Victorian costumes as part of the celebrations.

Academy bosses said the Victorian Day really helped the students understand what the school was like when it first opened and allowed them to experience it for themselves.

Headteacher, Tracey Pitocco, said: "On March 23, 1861, a meeting was held to discuss the establishment of a school in Ellacombe.

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"The need for a school was in response to a recent surge of business investment in the Torquay area, which had greatly increased the local population.

"The area of Ellacombe can be extremely proud of answering both the need for more local housing, and for a school for the worker's children.

Mrs Pitocco said the day began in the school hall, which was originally the only classroom.

The children sat in rows and participated in poetry recitals, still-life shading, times-table chanting and even a bout of rigorous sports drills.

She added: "Victorian Day was a great success. In order to encourage children to engage with history, so that they can fully understand the impact it has on our present day, the teachers felt it was really important to immerse the children in a genuine Victorian experience.

"The children were super and fully embraced the experience."

How the children did it in 1972: See Bygones, pages 80-81.