We can provide reproductions of these resources in hard copy or CDRom
On a one to one basis we can advise PGCE students on sources relevant to their study and how archival and local studies material can be used in the classroom
We can deliver a tailored session for PGCE students using original archival material
We can organise school visits to the Record Office, by arrangement, which includes a tour of the strongrooms and the chance to examine original documents.

For further details please contact :

Jeanette Ovenden
Assistant Keeper (Archivist)
Tel : (0116) 257 1080
Email : Jeanette.Ovenden@leics.gov.uk

Recent Projects

WW2 Workshop - cakes without sugar and skirts being turned into shorts!

In the Autumn of 2009 the Record Office set out on a partnership project with a Leicester middle school ( 11-14 year olds).

The plan was to work with two teachers from Crown Hills School in Leicester but this later increased to three when Abington School (a county middle school) came on board.

Over a six month period we planned and delivered a workshop that covered the WW2 themes of evacuation, rationing, homefront and the blitz.

Archive and local studies sources were selected, scanned and mounted onto CD.

To bring the topic to life for the pupils, objects were brought from the museum service which included soldiers’ helmets, air raid siren ( went down a treat!), stirrup pumps, gas masks (demos), gas warning flags, children’s suitcase, badges, dressings and other items.

Another three schools were invited to take part in the workshop so there was a healthy mixture of city and county, primary and secondary schools.

We drew up a highly structured day to give the pupils a lot of variety and prevent them from becoming bored.

The activities included making cakes using WW2 ingredients (no sugar), making clothes from other clothes, code breaking activity (witnessed the largest ever expressions of the word wicked!) and pupil presentations using the CD and museum objects.

It was tremendous fun for all involved and thanks must go to MLA for enabling the project to take place.