Gipsey Bridge Academy, part of Infinity Academies Trust, has been celebrated by Historic England for the impact that learning about local heritage has had on pupils, families, and the wider community.
The village primary school has been featured as a case study on Historic England’s website, showcasing the range of ways that local history has been brought to life.
Georgie Case, Headteacher at Gipsey Bridge Academy, said: “Through heritage-based learning and community projects, we have been helping pupils to better understand where they live and our unique history.
“We want our children to feel proud of their local area and the legacy that has been built by the generations that have gone before them.”
A recent highlight was when the school took part in the Department for Education’s national Time Capsule project last year. This included opening a 25-year-old time capsule that was put together by pupils at Gipsey Bridge Primary in 2000 to celebrate the turn of the Millenium – then current pupils had the chance to meet school alumni from that time and explore the contents together.
Other projects have included research into the village’s missing war memorial plaque and participation in Boston Brilliance Festival, where pupils’ light designs were projected onto historic buildings. Commemorative events such as D-Day anniversary celebrations hosted by the school have also brought the local community together, including a 93-year-old former Gipsey Bridge pupil who has shared her WWII experiences with the children.
Supported by Historic England’s Local Heritage Education Manager, staff at the school have also benefited from additional training, while families have had the chance to attend special workshops about local history.
Georgie Case added: “It has been wonderful to see how much the children’s understanding of the local area has already grown through hands-on experiences like this. My thanks go to Mrs Moffat, Historic England and members of the local community who have helped us to get started on this journey.
“I see this as just the beginning – there’s even more exciting learning to come as we build on this foundation back in the classroom.”
The primary school now plans to apply for the Historic England Heritage Schools Award and continue embedding local heritage across the curriculum – ensuring that pupils of all abilities can explore, understand and take pride in the heritage of the place they call home.
Gavin Booth, CEO at Infinity Academies Trust, said: “We are proud of this wonderful work taking place at Gipsey Bridge Academy and their ambitions to further embed local heritage across the curriculum.
“Celebrating our communities is something we champion across Infinity Academies Trust and this is a brilliant example of how schools can inspire pupils to take an interest in what makes their local area unique. Understanding where they come from enables children to value the past and help to shape a bright future.”
