The year long project is being delivered in partnership with Leicestershire County Council’s Museum Learning Team and expresseum poetics.

Maplewell Hall began as a mansion house in the 16th century becoming Maplewell Grange in Victorian times, and Maplewell Hall School in 1954. It has a rich history and extensive grounds for the young people to undertake their research, as well as its own school museum.

Around 40 young people attending the after school club have begun working with the Museum Learning Team to learn about museums and how history and collections are preserved for the future. By working in the school museum, they have put these skills into practice to create innovative and exciting new displays.

Over future months they will work with an artist and a poet to research and interpret the history of the school and its grounds, and learn about interpreting them for other people. This will enable them to shape the way their school museum looks and is interpreted for future pupils and visitors to their school, through new and exciting ways of displaying and explaining the collections.

In the summer term, the young people will finally use the skills they have learned to produce an exhibition in the school’s museum based on their own research. They will also share and celebrate their findings with other young people and local communities through the school website, events and a museum open day.

Commenting on the award, Lead Member for CYPS said: “We are thrilled to have received the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund and the new opportunities it gives the young people. I look forward to seeing the results of all the hard work in the museum which reflects their interests and creativity”.

Vanessa Harbar, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East Midlands, welcomed the project: “This is an inspiring venture that supports these young people to showcase, celebrate and pass on their schools long history. HLF is delighted to see this project go ahead, it provides these young people with the opportunity to learn new and valuable skills, while leave a real lasting legacy. We look forward to hearing more of their research.”

Notes to editors

About Maplewell Hall School & Museum
Maplewell Hall is a Special Educational Needs school. Students aged 11–19 years attend the school. The school museum was created by the Head of History, Darren Harris, and has been open since 2011.

About the Museum Learning Team
The Museum Learning Team delivers workshops to schools and groups throughout Leicestershire’s museums and the wider community.

About expresseum poetics
expresseum poetics is a social enterprise which specialises in empowering people to write and speak creatively by providing opportunities for people to engage with their cultural and natural heritage in meaningful ways.

Further information

For images and interviews, please contact
Darren Harris, Head of History at Maplewell Hall School, on 01509 890237, email: darrenharris@maplewell.leics.sch.uk.