Christmas Learning with the Heritage Schools Programme

Our three Heritage Learning Officers work with schools across the country to bring curriculum subjects alive in historic churches and to bring the rich heritage of our parish churches into classrooms. In this blog, Steve Tarling, Heritage Learning Officer, who works with schools from the Midlands all the way up to the Scottish border, recounts some of the most memorable moments from school workshops throughout the Christmas period.

The build up to Christmas is often a busy time for our churches, and December 2024 was no exception with a number of churches and schools taking full advantage of the Heritage Schools Program and making visits across the region.

Christmas angel deocrations

 

St Leonards, in the busy market town of Bridgnorth in Shropshire saw a holy trinity of three visits from a local primary school, which is within walking distance of the church. Early years, years one and two all made a visit to the beautifully decorated church to make hanging Christmas decorations to take home with them, before having a chance to sing some seasonal songs and hear a Norwegian fairy tale about a giant in the snow. The learners had even prepared a song of their own called “Wriggly Nativity,” which proved to be highly entertaining.

Heading further North, in the charismatic and unique church of St Edmunds in Falinge, Rochdale the local primary school made their first visit to the church for several years. Two classes of children aged four to six were given a chance to explore St Edmunds, and make their own Christingles from oranges, candles and ribbons. To see the church illuminated with Christmas lights, trees and decorations full of bustling, lively children was truly a sight to behold.

St. Edmund's Falinge in Rochdale
© Andy Marshall St. Edmunds, Falinge (c) Andy Marshall

 

Across the Pennines and into the county of Yorkshire, secondary school pupils from Brighouse made an inaugural visit to Holy Trinity York, for a Christmas treat. Around fifty year seven pupils were able to explore the box pews and unique interior of the church, before learning about the history of Christmas and some of its pre- Christian origins. In keeping with this legendary and folkloric mood, the visitors were then entertained with the seasonal story of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, a medieval epic set in the court of King Arthur.

Clay gargoyle

 

In Lincolnshire, a school visit was made to Stamford to an inclusive school whose pupils regularly visit St John’s Church. As part of their technology program year three were treated to a session on “Gargoyles and Grotesques.” This session saw the pupils learn about the significance of the structures, as well as being able to tell the difference between the two of them, prior to having a face pulling competition and then making their own gargoyles from clay with some truly gruesome examples being produced. The children then heard a story of the Lincoln Imp – of how a naughty imp was turned into stone in the nearby Lincoln Cathedral where he can still be seen to this day.

Overall, a busy but highly enjoyable time was had by all, with many of the schools wanting to return to the churches.

Heritage Learning Officer Gabrielle Dryden showing Footsteps Nursery around St. Peters Northampton

 

The Heritage Schools Programme is a programme developed by Historic England, which aims to help school children develop an understanding of their local heritage and its significance. CCT have been a partner organisation for this programme since 2012. Historic churches can be read like history books in stone and providing children with access to the language of these buildings is a great way to enable them to discover their local history. At CCT we aim to deliver on the aims of the Historic Schools Programme by creating learning opportunities, experiences and resources for schools that use local historic places of worship as a classroom, inspiration and an integral part of the curriculum. The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE), which enables CCT to deliver workshops to publicly funded schools free of charge. An impact study commissioned by Historic England in 2022 showed that participation in the programme positively impacted well-being through an increased sense of place, belonging and civic pride for pupils, teachers and the community; increased access to heritage and cultural engagement for pupils in areas with low social mobility; improved the quality of teaching for teachers and the quality of learning for pupils across a range of curriculum subjects.

You can find out more about the programme here: https://historicengland.org.uk/services-skills/education/heritage-schools/

If you are interested in booking a workshop for your school, please email [email protected]

 

Support Heritage Learning

Support our work by becoming a member today from as little as £3.50/month.