The entire cohort of Year 9s visited the Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend on Thursday 21^st March.They have been studying the world religion of Sikhism in their RE lessons since the New Year. This visit concluded the study of Sikhism by visiting a place of worship known as a Gurdwara (temple or place of worship). This complex is a place of worship and contains a number of external buildings that are used for Panjabi school, a day care centre for the elderly and a fully equipped Sports Hall. The Year 9s were a fantastic year group and excellent ambassadors of St Edmunds today. The Gurdwara staff were chuffed with our students and they are also going to adopt what we asked of our students - to wear their own clothes - and ask all schools to do the same in the future. It was an honour and privilege to organise and attend this extra-circular activity with the staff and students of St Edmund's. Some of our students were understandably nervous but showed real resilience and respect in their attitude and behaviour at the Gurdwara today. One parent immediately contacted the school about the trip and said this about their child's feedback: 

"He really enjoyed it, he was telling me all about the temple, the food, the prayers etc he thoroughly enjoyed himself and now wants me to cook him the curry. I never thought he would try it as he said he was anxious about the food situation but he said he loved it. This is great that he tried something new and not just beige."  As the Head of RE I was delighted with all our students engagement and participation in this experiential RE day at the Gurdwara.  Mr Walmsley