Studying local history made easier with Local Heritage Partnership workshop

“What can local study do for me?”

Wednesday 27 June 2012

A new partnership initiative is set to make teaching local history more engaging for teachers in Kent when the Canterbury Local Heritage Partnership hosts a continuing professional development event for teachers on Wednesday 27 June at Canterbury Christ Church University.

The free half day event is aimed at sharing best practice for local history studies, bringing together experts from English Heritage, The Historical Association and other partners with teachers and students from four local schools, to showcase new ideas and approaches to teaching local history.

The training session will include an expert-led local history CPD session, to coincide with the launch of the a new online unit on local history created by Andrew Wrenn and English Heritage’s education team.

“Teachers often create their teaching plans in relative isolation, and particularly when you are teaching a subject like local history where there may not be quite as many resources available, it can be quite challenging to create an engaging and stimulating scheme of work,” comments English Heritage’s regional education coordinator, Rachel Hudson, who is based at Dover Castle. “This workshop day will not only give teachers the chance to see some new approaches, but also to talk to other teachers and pupils of all ages about what they enjoyed most about their local history studies, which should provide inspiring ideas to implement, both in and outside the classroom.”

Although the schools involved are all from the Canterbury area, Rachel suggests that teachers from further afield can learn a lot from the free workshop. “Whilst facts may change from town to town, the techniques and ideas can be applied in any location,” she adds.

Projects on display will include interactive maps of Canterbury and learning walks, all developed by local pupils.

The free workshop runs from 10.00am to 12.30pm on Wednesday 27 June at Canterbury Christ Church University. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Rachel Hudson on rachel.hudson@english-heritage.org.uk or call 01304 204475.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

The initiative is a partnership between English Heritage, the Canterbury Branch of the Historical Association, Canterbury Christ Church University, Canterbury Archaeological Trust and Canterbury Cathedral Libraries. Participating schools include Simon Langton Boys School, Simon Langton Girls School, Canterbury High School and Kent College.

For further media information, please contact:

Jay Commins – PRO English Heritage (Education)

Tel: 0113 251 5698

Mob: 07810 546567

Email: jay@fim.org.uk