The History Department was very excited to put together a unique activity day for the Year 7s as part of the school's 450th anniversary celebrations. The students participated in a packed schedule of activities tailored around:

• Finding out about the history of Pate's
• Finding out about the role of Richard Pate and his links to Cheltenham
• Reactivating prior learning on the history of Cheltenham
• Completing a time capsule application form

With the numbers of Year 7s involved, the yeargroup had to be split, with one half doing the Cheltenham walking tour in the morning whilst the other half did the school-based workshop and then vice versa in the afternoon. Fortunately the weather stayed fair all day so everyone was happy!

The workshop saw the students looking at old school photos and using them to interpret what life was like for students in the past. They were then asked what evidence they would leave for future students to show what life was like at Pate's in 2024 for a time capsule (suggestions included a Refectory menu, their favourite Refectory drink (Radnor Splash!), a school tie and blazer, a timetable, and school publications). They took part in a treasure hunt, where in small groups, they navigated their way around the site to answer questions about the history of the school and solve a riddle - the first group back with all questions correct got to keep the 'treasure' in the treasure chest as their prize!

The history walk of Cheltenham was a whistle stop tour taking in the architectural highlights of the town whilst working in some Pate's related sites / features of significance along the way. The first stop was Montpellier Gardens followed by the Ivy in the Rotunda; the 32 Caryatids in Montpellier Walk; the Queens Hotel; the Imperial Gardens (with its full-size bronze statue of Gustav Holst, CGS alumnus); the Cheltenham Town Hall (where the students had a sneak preview of the 450th Anniversary Commemorative Concert that was taking place that same night!); Neptune’s Fountain (sculpted by RL Boulton & Sons who also sculpted the statue of Richard Pate which first stood above the main entrance to the 1888 High Street school and now stands on the current school site); the Municipal Offices; the Long Gardens, Edward Wilson Statue & War Memorial; The Promenade; Martin & Co; St. Mary’s Parish Church - The Minster (the only surviving medieval building in Cheltenham and Richard Pate was educated in the upper room); the site of the first and second Cheltenham Grammar School for Boys buildings on the Lower High Street (the Blue Plaque is by Soho Coffee); Pate House (the almshouse founded by Richard Pate in 1574 for ‘six old poor people’ located on the High Street, then moved to its current site on Albion Street in 1811); the Holst Birthplace Museum; Pittville Gates and finally the Pitville Estate (with lunch for the morning group in Pitville Park).

Unfortunately there wasn't time to visit the site of Pate’s Grammar School for Girls on Albert Road (from 1939 - 1986) which is now Pitville School or go inside The Minster. The highlight of the walk for the students - anything that was to do with Pate's!

A huge thanks to the History Department for putting together such a wonderful activity and to the Archivists, Maggie and Rob, for assisting with sourcing photographs and information for the workshop.