KEIGHLEY school children have been getting a glimpse into the past and the chance to see what classroom life was like for youngsters in Victorian times thanks to a scheme running in one of Bradford's popular museums.

The Victorian classroom at Bradford Industrial Museum has become a popular workshop for Key Stage 2 classes, giving a real-life experience of living in those times.

The museum is one of the most popular attractions in the city, allowing visitors to see how Bradfordians of the 1800s worked and lived.

One group of children to benefit from the innovative history project is the year six of Nessfield Primary School, in Keighley, which recently travelled back in time for some old-school education.

Classes arrive for the workshop in Victorian dress and are met by one of the museum’s learning team in role as a Victorian school teacher. Together they take a step back in time to 1885 and experience a lesson in the authentic Moorside Board School classroom.

The Victorian classroom immerses children in a school of the past with blackboard and chalk, hard wooden benches bolted to the floor, an abacus, a piano, books, an atlas and a picture of Queen Victoria on the wall, providing a stark contrast to the comfortable modern classrooms, with moulded chairs and interactive white boards.

The lesson includes ‘the 3 Rs’, copy-writing with dip pens using ink, inkwells and blotting paper. Pupils also recite times tables and poetry, sing period songs and use slates and slate pencils to do simple arithmetic as well as use copy drawing books. After the workshop classes can explore the rest of the museum and get a feel for Victorian life in Bradford by visiting the mill manager's house and the museum’s popular back-to-back period housing.

Victorian Bradford has rich and important local history stories, including the development of the worsted industry and how it shaped the economy of the district. Alongside this were a number of significant Bradfordians with ideas that inspired and influenced educational reform – William Edward Forster, James Hanson, Sir Henry Mitchell and Margaret McMillan.

Last term once again saw many Bradford-district schools visit the Victorian classroom at the museum; the session also continues to be popular with schools from all over Yorkshire.

Neil Hinchliffe, museum manager, said: “It’s fabulous to see our Victorian classroom continue to come to life with visits from local primary school children. We try and give something of a real experience of Victorian times within our very own Moorside Board School. I sincerely hope that classes go away with a real understanding of Bradford’s Victorian history and heritage and that they are inspired to come back and visit Bradford Industrial Museum with their families.”

After the school’s visit, Laura Paxford, year six teacher at Nessfield, said: “It was a great and valuable experience for our children. It will further their understanding of our topic and has provided lots of ideas for us to explore back at school.”

Cathy Attwood, teaching assistant, said: “We really thought the school master was good in the classroom, also explaining some of the differences between schools in Victorians times and now. It will really help the children understand history.”

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, Bradford Council's executive member for education, skills and culture, said: “We have some great cultural facilities in the Bradford district which bring learning to life for young people. The Victorian classroom immerses children in a school from the past to give them a real sense of how education has changed while also learning about the city’s rich industrial heritage.”