Kingsford School pupils transform into World War Two evacuees for extra special history lesson

27 March 2017

Primary 7 pupils at Aberdeen’s Kingsford School turned back the clock some eighty years as they became World War Two evacuees for the day (Monday 27 March).

The 49 pupils dressed in period clothing, complete with gas masks, set off for Aberdeen rail station in a vintage corporation bus, courtesy of First Aberdeen which supplied the vehicle and driver - also in wartime attire - free of charge.

From the station, the intrepid children were ‘evacuated’ by train to Stonehaven where they finally alighted at Arduthie School to continue with their history lesson.

The school came up with the novel idea as a way of enhancing the pupils’ learning experience and getting a feel for what an estimated 800,000 children went through during the 1939 evacuations from British cities

Laura Allan, the teacher who arranged the trip, explained “Learning about people in the past is an extremely important part of the curriculum. Things really were different during the war, and the best way for pupils to empathise is to see it through the eyes of an evacuee child, which is what we have tried to recreate.

“One thing that hasn’t changed is children’s need to relax, and have fun, even through the toughest times. This is why we included a Lindy-hop style dance and a Vera Lynn inspired sing-along as part of our visit to Arduthie Primary. “

Gary Bain, Depute Head, added “This is a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to gain an insight into both the excitement and the fear that an evacuee would have experienced.”