Bringing history to life - announcing a new schools project with Freshwater Theatre Company
Image credit: James Clarke
We are delighted to announce an ambitious new education project, funded thanks to a £225,000 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund that will deliver interactive sessions with local schools focused on the histories of the House, particularly those relating to World War II, the Secret Listeners and Migration to Britain.
Over the coming months, together with Freshwater Theatre Company, we will work with four local partner schools to develop two sessions; one aimed at KS2 students (age 7-11) and a second session aimed at KS3 (age 11-14).
Following a successful pilot, we will roll the sessions out to a further 20 schools in the autumn, and online resources to support the sessions will be available on our new website, due to launch later this year.
Schools Manager, Catherine said: Freshwater have extensive experience working with schools, museums and other organisations, and are specialists in the primary and early secondary age groups. Since our earliest conversations we were impressed with Freshwater's awareness of approaching potentially sensitive topics (such as migration or the Holocaust) in the classroom and the value they place on open dialogue with educators.
Freshwater take into account children's previous knowledge and aim to give them power over the narrative, important factors in building engagement and providing 'wow' moments that will stick with them. We are delighted that Freshwater will be working with us to create exciting, interactive experiences for schools which support learning and creatively bring the curriculum to life".
Image credit: James Clarke
Stuart McLeod, Director England - London & South at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that the history of Trent Park House will be brought to life so creatively to inspire the next generation of historians. These students will hear about the historic importance of this building and the huge difference it made during the World War II. It's one part of a wider project that will bring the hidden stories of the home of the Secret Listeners to life, thanks to money raised by National Lottery players.”
Dan Griffiths, General Manager at Freshwater Theatre said: “We are honoured to be working with Trent Park House on this new schools project. There are very few times that an opportunity to engage in history, as it’s being discovered and unfurled, presents itself. Yet, we are doing exactly that!
It has already become far too easy for the Freshwater Creative team to get sucked into the lives of the Secret Listeners - digesting all the primary sources, whilst exploring a variety of exciting ways to tell the Trent Park story. All our research and development will lead to an experience for pupils that helps build a narrative around their classroom learning and how they engage with the important themes associated with Trent Park.
A unique, meaningful, and incredibly important story to be shared.”
These immersive and creative opportunities will connect students to the past using different senses to explore, enquire, problem-solve and make links to their lives today.
If you are a teacher or parent interested in finding out more about this project and how your school can be involved, please email us.
Image credit: James Clarke
About Freshwater Theatre Company
Freshwater Theatre Company’s mission is to offer high-quality, affordable, innovative drama and arts experiences to school children and their teachers.
Since its inception in 1996, Freshwater has become one of the most respected drama-in-education companies in the UK.
Working with over 150,000 children across the country each year, the company offer a wide variety of drama workshops and shows to support key areas of the primary curriculum. Their sessions provide enriching learning opportunities that enable creative expression whilst embedding subject knowledge.
About The National Lottery Heritage Fund
Using money raised by the National Lottery, we Inspire, lead and resource the UK’s heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. www.heritagefund.org.uk.
Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund
Since The National Lottery began in 1994, National Lottery players have raised over £46billion for projects and more than 670,000 grants have been awarded across the UK - the equivalent of more than 240 lottery grants in every UK postcode district. More than £30 million raised each week goes to good causes across the UK.
