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BBC Presenter attended the launch of a student history exhibition
21 Jul 2011
BBC presenter Dr Nina Ramirez gave an inspirational talk to students at Redmoor High School on Friday 15 July and explored their Creative Partnerships project.
30 year eight students at the Hinckley-based school have been working on a project called ‘footprints’ which explores history and what footprints they could leave behind.
The Mighty Creatives (TMC), the Leicester-based children’s charity, delivers the Creative Partnerships project across schools in the East Midlands.
Last Friday, started with students talking to Dr Nina Ramirez about the project and their archaeological ‘finds’ including a Georgian bucket and roman pottery, which had been verified by the local museum.
Hazel Townsend, programme manager for TMC, said, “The young people were clearly enthusiastic about the project and it is obvious that the project has had an impact on their view and engagement with history as a curriculum subject. They noted that it was good to be learning about history by ‘doing’.”
After the ‘show and tell’ style morning, students were joined by family and parents at the Atkins Building in Hinckley for lunch.
Dr Ramirez, the art historian who has presented various TV programmes including BBC Four’s ‘Treasures of the Anglo Saxons’, gave a ten-minute inspirational talk.
Hazel said, “Dr Ramirez spoke about why she felt that ‘history matters’ and praised the project and the students involved.”
Three students who had taken on the role of the film crew introduced the project documentary film.
Following this, headteacher, Andrew Coombes, spoke about the impact of the project – not only for students but also for the teacher involved.
Martin Cartwright, Deputy Mayor for Hinckley and Bosworth, opened the exhibition in the afternoon.
The exhibition included: -
- A ‘time tunnel’ which had been created by the students – filled with created artefacts and art work made by the students involved in the project
- A series of photographs which documented the project process including ‘war tea parties’ with members of the local communities – finding out what it was like in Hinckley in the Second World War
- The ‘findings’ – excavated by the students and found using metal detectors – both in the school grounds and beyond at key sites in Hinckley
Hazel added, “It was great to see students showing their parents and grandparents around the exhibition space – and for their grandparents to actually be involved in the project themselves.
“The students were rightly very proud of what they had achieved and as a result of the project there will be a continued relationship with the local archaeological society and the summer ‘dig’ activities planned over the summer ‘sold out’ straight away.”
