OAKFIELD Primary School became the first group to visit their ‘Historical Environment’ partner, Brading Roman Villa last week as preparations for Mardi Gras 2019 got underway.

The 84 pupils gained valuable insight into how the Romans lived, this inspired designs for their costumes which will represent Brading Roman Villa at the New Carnival Company’s (NCC) Mardi Gras parade in Ryde on June 29.

This year's theme is ‘Biosphere Island’ and all participating school and community groups will partner with an expert organisation to help research their Island-based subject, Brading Roman Villa is Oakfield's partner organisation.

The children enjoyed a tour of the villa, made mosaics, handled artefacts and worked out what different objects were used for.

Education officer at the villa Spencer Brown said: “We’ve been helping the children to explore the villa so they can feel what it was like to be a Roman living at Brading. Visits always inspire and engage, and this has been a springboard into their topic on the Romans as well as laying the foundations for our collaboration with the NCC and the Mardi Gras parade. The children threw themselves into the activities and created a day they will never forget. Everyone will see this in the parade.”

Diane Robinson, Lower Key Stage 2 teacher at Oakfield Primary School said: “We’ve linked our curriculum topic, ‘Life in Roman times’ with Mardi Gras, but people shouldn’t assume we’ll all be dressed as Roman soldiers. Evidence suggests Brading Roman Villa was a farm not a fort, and the children have been learning about the other ‘F’ words associated with this villa including food, floors, fields and fences. We’ll be concentrating on these aspects, and not the fighting.”

Frankie Goldspink, creative director of the NCC, said: “Mardi Gras 2019 is supporting the IW’s bid to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and creating a parade that celebrates the best the Island has to offer. By partnering heritage and environmental organisations with schools and communities in this process, we are really embracing the concept of Biosphere, and getting everyone to feel part of it.”

All pupils will be involved in designing outfits in class, before making the selected costumes which will be worn at Mardi Gras.

To date, 30 groups and 25 heritage organisations are signed up for the Mardi Gras project, but it’s not too late to join. Contact NCC on 716095 to find out how.