Picking up three awards at the Northamptonshire Education Awards was an amazing achievement, but for Wootton Park School, what meant the most was being chosen as the school to benefit from the extraordinary opportunity to bridge the gap between history and the classroom.
The Chester House Estate, in support of the Northamptonshire Education Awards last month, and the Milton Keynes Education Awards in September, offered a complimentary outreach visit valued at approximately £350. The names of all the nominated schools went into a draw and on the night, the name of Wootton Park School was drawn out.
Wootton Park School, which had already won the Secondary School of the Year, School Business Manager of the Year and the Overall School of the Year on the night, 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. Jane Page, Senior Vice Principal at Wootton Park School, said:
“We were delighted to win the other awards this evening, we’ve been incredibly lucky, but actually, The Chester House Estate outreach prize is the one that means the most to me because this is the one that is going to involve the learners themselves and everyone will get something from it. It’s all about the children and, if anything, this is the best award because it’s for the children and it means they are going to get amazing hands-on experience.”
The generosity of The Chester House Estate didn’t stop there. All schools nominated for awards are being extended a 20% discount on either an on site and outreach visit. The offer ensures that schools throughout the county 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, click here or contact learning@chesterhouseestate.org
