Murder Mystery 2010

Last weekend we held our annual Murder Mystery for KS3, at Braeside in Devizes. This is an enrichment event, aimed at developing skills such as teamwork and creative problem solving, whilst also giving students a try at techniques and topics they might not cover until later in their school career, such as forensic science and accounting.

Each year we have a different theme, and staff work together to write the scripts, come up with the motives and create the evidence for each member of the team. It is a large undertaking, but made worth it by the enjoyment and enthusiasm show by the students.

This year, our theme was Britain's Most Haunted. As well as solving the murder, students worked in their teams to write a ghost story (which had to have a twist at the end so I didn't have nightmares!) which was told at the campfire on Friday night; they also had a technology task during which they had to create a ghost detector. On Saturday morning we did a scavenger hunt around Avebury stone circle, and on Saturday night we staged the Ghost Olympics, which was made even more challenging by the ghost costumes we insisted on certain team members donning before taking part.

Busy though we kept them, we culd not distract them from trying to solve the dastardly murder of Miss "Ed Balls" Oliver, a soundman who had been stabbed during the filming of the show on Friday night. Her murderer, Mr "Al Beano" Phillips was quickly apprehended and revealed in questioning that he had been blackmailed into committing he crime, but unfortunately he died before he could reveal who his blackmailer was, having carelessly drunk from a poisoned cup of coffee. Translating his diary from his native French language didn't shed any light on the subject, so students were forced to use forensic science to test for poison and finger prints on the poison bottle. The accounts for the show were also examined and the suspects questioned. Students then produced an incident board, an incident report and a reconstruction of the events.

Some comments from the students:
"Tiring, but a good experience"
"I really enjoyed the weekend as I enjoyed trying out new things"
"Really fun and enjoyable; quite funny as well."
"Challenging, stressful, but overall - awesome."
"This weekend was absolutely amazing, I've really enjoyed myself and I hope I get the opportunity to come again next year!"