Imagine your school not only receiving a nomination for one of the inaugural Milton Keynes Education Awards, but also securing an extraordinary opportunity to bridge the gap between history and the classroom.
The Chester House Estate, in support of both the Milton Keynes Education Awards, which took place in September, and the Northamptonshire Education Awards in November, entered all nominated schools into a prize draw to win a complimentary outreach visit valued at approximately £350.
Glebe Farm School, which had already won the Environmental and Sustainability Award on the night, emerged as the lucky winner, and is now set to welcome a member of the Chester House Estate’s learning team for a half-day visit. Armed with an array of authentic objects, including some from The Northamptonshire ARC, an advanced facility housing over 20,000 materials from around 3,000 locations across the county, the facilitator will offer students a hands-on opportunity to connect with history on a deeper level.
Erin Stewart, Deputy Head at Glebe Farm School, said:
“We are delighted. Because we are an all-through school, it’s important to us to bring learning to life for all age groups through opportunities like this, and to find ways to introduce children and young people to the wider world.
“The reality is that children have missed out on so much since the pandemic and we want to enrich their education and to fascinate them, and what better way to do that than with something like The Chester House Estate, which is an amazing resource for all of us.”
But the generosity of The Chester House Estate doesn’t stop there. All schools nominated for awards are being extended a 20% discount on both onsite and outreach visits, available until Easter. The offer ensures that schools throughout the region can access this invaluable learning resource at a reduced cost, allowing history to come to life for students of all ages.
The Learning Department at The Chester House Estate exemplifies the institution’s commitment to showcasing historical significance. Learning visits have become a regular feature, offering schools engaging workshops and assemblies that bring history to life in captivating ways.
At the core of The Chester House Estate’s learning experience is the use of authentic artefacts instead of replicas. These genuine relics, spanning 10,000 years of human activity, captivate young minds, effectively bridging the gap between historical narratives and tangible reality.
The workshops offered by The Chester House Estate cater to various subjects, including ‘The Nene Valley Romans’ and ‘Pre-history in the Nene Valley’ for primary schools, ‘The Artefacts of Archaeology’ for secondary schools, and ‘How do we know about the past,’ tailored to suit all age groups. These workshops also incorporate elements of geography, science, and the region’s farming history, providing a comprehensive and immersive learning experience.
The Chester House Estate’s Learning Department places accessibility at its core. Workshops are thoughtfully tailored to accommodate the diverse needs of students of all ages, ensuring that those with SEND have equal access to enriching historical experiences.
Moreover, The Chester House Estate’s outreach programme emphasises cost-effectiveness, eliminating travel expenses for schools. This makes the programme a budget friendly choice for educational institutions, without compromising on the quality and depth of the experience. Whether conducted through outreach or on site, all visits to The Chester House Estate are reasonably priced, ensuring that history remains accessible to all.
Administered by North Northamptonshire Council and supported by the University of Leicester, The Chester House Estate is more than just a repository of history—it’s a hub for learning. The Northamptonshire ARC, situated within the estate, serves as a cutting-edge facility and publicly accessible archaeological archive, housing invaluable materials from across the county.
For teachers seeking to unlock the past and inspire their students, The Chester House Estate offers a treasure trove of knowledge and enriching experiences so students can uncover the history beneath their feet.
To explore more about The Chester House Estate and its immersive Learning Programme, contact learning@chesterhouseestate.org.
