Yorkshire school wins prestigious award for commitment to local heritage work

Peel Park Primary School and Nursery, in the Bolton and Undercliffe area of Bradford, has been selected for a prestigious new award from Historic England in recognition of its passion and flair for teaching pupils about their local heritage.

The school is one of only eight across the country to receive the Champion Heritage School Award after being chosen on account of the inspiring work it has undertaken through Historic England’s Heritage Schools programme.

Harjyot Hayer, the History lead at Peel Park Primary School and Nursery, told The Yorkshire Post: "It's great to know we have been chosen as a flagship school to enhance local heritage - which is significant given that we do have quite a transient community, so when we are considering heritage, we are doing it against that backdrop of considering identity as well."

Through this programme, every pupil in the school learnt about the history of their local area.

Each year group focused on a different local historical site including the statue of former Prime Minister Robert Peel in the local park and Undercliffe Cemetery where a number of prominent local residents are buried. Some pupils also visited Saltaire to learn about the significance of the UNESCO World Heritage Site and Sunny Banks Mills in Leeds.

The school has also found other creative ways to bring local heritage to life. For example, it invited World War Two veterans from Age Concern to speak about their experiences in the conflict and is actively involved in the annual Armistice commemorations at Undercliffe Cemetery.

Bradford-born Ms Hayer, 36, who has worked at the school for more than five years, said: "I feel it’s especially important for our children to understand their local and wider heritage, in order to strengthen their sense of identity and experience.

"Our children are from quite a diverse background - it's significant for them to feel a sense of belonging and attachment and inclusion when they are considering their local area."

Across the region Breckon Hill Primary School, in Middlesbrough was also selected as one of the other eight across the country to receive the accolade.

The primary school worked with The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum to create an exhibition in the school about the life of the explorer and his links to Middlesbrough. The exhibition included a dressing up area, a lemon juice tasting station to prevent scurvy, artwork from Hawaii and New Zealand as well models of ships and telescopes.

It inspired both teachers and pupils to explore local heritage further across a variety of subjects and led to the successful completion of the Heritage Schools Award, which is given by Historic England to schools that have supported pupils to better understand their local heritage and its importance.

Katie Harris, Teacher at Breckon Hill Primary School, said: "We are delighted to be working with Historic England on the Champion Heritage Schools Scheme. Understanding local

history provides a context in which wider historical changes in society, technology and government can be studied. This is why it is so important to use the history around us; it

makes it personal for the children."

As Champion Heritage Schools, both will now work with Historic England over the coming year through the Heritage Schools programme to pilot a new school-led scheme, aimed at highlighting the importance of local heritage and how it can be integrated into a range of subjects. As part of the award, the school will receive £1,000 to support this work.

"I'm hoping they develop a greater sense of local heritage and understanding within the context historical eras as well. We are still going to be going through the history curriculum but we are going to look at how the local area factors in, within that, so there is more invested interest in it," Ms Hayer said.

Julie Edwards, Local Heritage Education Manager for Historic England in Yorkshire, said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Peel Park Primary School and Nursery over the next year to shape and deliver this new scheme."

Victoria Angel, Local Heritage Education Manager for Historic England in the North East added: "They are thoroughly deserving of Champion Heritage Schools status and will serve as an inspiration to other schools looking to incorporate local heritage into their curriculum."

Champion Heritage School Award, Historic England, full list:

Peel Park Primary School and Nursery, Bradford

Breckon Hill Primary School, Middlesbrough

Knowsley Junior School, Springhead, Oldham

Dawley Brook Primary School, Kingswinford, West Midlands

The Hall School, Glenfield, Leicester

St George’s Primary and Nursery School, Great Yarmouth

Two Mile Hill Primary School, Kingswood, Bristol

The Sydney Russell School, Dagenham, London

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