Did you know Radley College have a zoo?

Year 3 spent an awesome afternoon handling some of the creatures which live in the biology department at the college.

We came face to face with a number of snakes, a hedgehog, a lizard and a bearded dragon. Thankfully all of them are very used to being handled.

The snakes in particular liked to find the warmest places to rest; in the crooks of our arms, around our necks and wrists. As coldblooded creatures, they cannot regulate their body temperature, and need the warmth provided from another source.

This incredible experience is just one example of the many opportunities' children have at St Swithun's to make learning come alive. This encounter may have been to enhance our science topic: animals including humans, but it also offered the opportunity for children to overcome their fears, to work as part of a team - the boa constrictor was particularly heavy to hold- and to show respect and care towards other living things. It is definitely an experience to remember.