On Thursday afternoon, the Sixth Form history students travelled to the National Portrait Gallery to immerse ourselves in Tudor culture, as well as taking part in an insightful workshop that was focused on finding the historical meaning behind different portraits. After arriving, we met one of the curators who provided a presentation on how monarchs were depicted in the Tudor portraiture. Then, we then ventured up into the gallery, and were split into groups which focused on finding different symbols within the gallery, for example the symbol of pearls, religion and nautical symbols in the famous paintings of rulers such as Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, as well as the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake. We then regrouped in order to discuss our findings, which was such a thought provoking experience as it allowed us to think about ways in which we could use paintings as a form of historical evidence in our essays. Thank you so much to the history department for such a fascinating experience!

Ella, Lower Sixth