As part of their Geography studies the year 9s headed off to the Wakefield coal mine museum last week. They have been investigating how economic activities have changed over time and part of that was a deeper study on the rise of coalmining in the UK, and also reasons for its decline later in the 20^th century. The trip entailed a tour down the mine where they learned of how coal mining changed through the years, from using children as young as 6 to having ponies live down there, until machines took over. There was also lots to do above ground, ranging from seeing the old pithead showers (a clean end and a dirty end!), to visiting the ponies, and exploring the stories of ex-miners in the museum.