AN imaginative teacher is putting together a documentary to ensure his students do not miss out on educational visits during the pandemic.

While schools are unable to take classes of children on trips due to the restrictions, teachers are having to find new ways to capture their attention and inspire them to learn.

Chris Pilcher, classics teacher at Sir Frederick Gibberd College in Harlow, is preparing to produce a documentary for his students focusing on his own visit to Ancient Roman sites.

Mr Pilcher, a former broadcast journalist, plans on showing students interesting artefacts and costumes, as well as giving them guided tours via video.

He said: “I am planning to visit the Ancient Roman sites in Colchester and film some interactive documentary-style content, which I will turn into a series of lessons for the children back at school.

“It’s in response to the limitations of the coronavirus pandemic and my efforts to try and still bring the real-life elements of intrigue and excitement of school trips to a classroom.

“I plan to visit various historical sites in Colchester, including the three temples, old chariot racing site and the Balkerne Gate. I will be filmed exploring these various sites, while presenting and teaching to the students who will watch everything back in the classroom.”

The filmed content will be used for a whole-school assembly and individual classics lessons.

Mr Pilcher said: “I am very excited about bringing the real-life classical world into classrooms and taking students on a virtual school trip to the ancient ruins of Colchester.

“It’s been such a challenging time for students throughout the coronavirus pandemic, being unable to see so much of the world outside classrooms like they normally would.

“I hope students will enjoy the experience and be inspired by the incredible ancient ruins just down the road from us here in Harlow. It will also remind them there’s an exciting world out there ready to be explored.”