Juniper Class travel to Bristol to see Brunel’s Clifton suspension bridge and SS Great Britain

Two events centred on the Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel have brought history alive for the children of Juniper Class at Shute Community Primary School.

The youngsters visited Bristol, where they crossed the Clifton Suspension Bridge and toured the SS Great Britain, two of Brunel’s creations.

The following week, Steve Manning, professional storyteller, went along to the school, dressed as Brunel, and stayed ‘in role’ to captivate the children with stories of how the Victorian engineer’s most famous creations – including bridges, steamboats and railway lines – came together.

Headteacher Amanda Graham said: “We always try to make the curriculum as exciting as possible at Shute. Steve’s visit and the Bristol trip have certainly fired imaginations and brought children face-to-face with a fascinating period of British history.”