On Tuesday 28th September 2022, Year 6 visited the Thackray Museum of Medicine in Leeds. Upon arrival, students were greeted by a Tudor Apocatherist and led to a workshop to ‘Cure the King’.  Year 6 learnt all about Henry VIII’s failing health since his jousting accident and how a previous apocatherist had been executed for their repulsion at his leg wound! After exploring how medicines were labelled and categorised students were informed about how the stars can have an influence on someone’s health. The session included making medicines using herbs (which can be messy), and the students getting to take some Tudor medicines home with them.

The other half of the day was spent exploring the museum starting with ‘Disease Street’ where Year 6 investigated the poor living conditions of the Victorian Era. Following this, everyone learnt about how conditions have improved since then including food hygiene and sanitation. On the second floor, students immersed themselves in a gallery celebrating health heroes and medical innovations through the years. Linked to our project ‘The Benefits of War?’ students were also able to learn about the impact of war on advances in medicine.

Miss Roche