YEAR 3 spent a fantastic morning at Big Pit in Blaenavon, as part of their topic 'The Iron Man' also linking in their science studies where they have been exploring rocks and soils.

Pupils were greeted by ex-miners Wayne and Smithy who decked the children out in hard hats with head lamps enabling them to see underground. Everyone was a little apprehensive when they entered the cage to travel 90 metres down the mineshaft.

The cage shook and rumbled as pupils waited with baited breath to reach the bottom. Thankfully, the mine was well lit by the children's head lamps and the guides put the class at ease telling pupils interesting facts about what life was like as a miner in the past and in more modern times. It was a dangerous job and even children and horses worked in the mines in Victorian times.

The Big Pit guides were pleased at how well behaved and polite children were during the visit. They were a credit to their parents and to St John's-on-the-Hill.