Case study: Bringing history to life at the RAF Museum

We have taken Year 6 to the RAF Museum for several years as the workshops are excellent; they are relatable for the children who have studied World War Two or informative and captivating if the visit is at the start of a topic. We wanted to bring our World War Two topic to life and give children the chance to see real artefacts and experience what life was like at the time. This is why we booked the ‘Air Raid!’ workshop.

This workshop has two parts, and in the first part the children really enjoyed learning about the bravery of Bernard Kregor and Daphne Pearson, who served in the Royal Air Force and the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force respectively. They loved wearing the genuine RAF uniform jackets and being taught about the insignia.

The other part of the workshop included hearing about the responsibilities of ARP Wardens in a room furnished as a 1940s home, where there was plenty to look at and notice. Children were able to handle a number of artefacts and some were able to demonstrate what happened had there been a gas attack. When the Air Raid siren went off the ‘warden’ led us to a shelter - this was a very real experience, which included sound effects!

The children had some time to reflect and discuss how people would have felt during these experiences. The workshop facilitators quickly built a good rapport with the group and were responsive to what the children knew; they were also accommodating in allowing time for photographs and additional questions.

After the workshop, we spent time looking at the World War Two aircraft, whose names the children have heard. They are always excited to see a real Spitfire, Hurricane and the impressive Lancaster Bomber.

The workshops available on a visit to the RAF Museum enhance the lessons in our history curriculum. Children come to realisations about different wartime experiences and artefacts because they can see and handle things they’ve only seen pictures of.

There are plenty of photo opportunities which I find particularly useful in supporting all the children with any follow-up work we do in school related to the trip. This time, we’ll be writing a museum visit review. In addition, our children with SEND can use photos we took of them handling objects in a range of oracy and writing activities.

This is the least stressful school visit! It’s easy to tailor things to our needs with three classes all doing workshops and needing lunch space at different times.

We were looked after from the moment our coach pulled up in the car park, even though we were early. There is a spacious ‘meeting base’ area where groups can gather in readiness for their workshops.

It was also very useful to be given a lockable ‘cage’ in which to store packed lunches, coats etc. This meant that children had their hands free when engaging with the exhibits and workshop, but more importantly did not lose anything on the way round the museum. We had also booked this area for lunch so that the children could sit at tables - this was useful as we could keep the group together.

All the displays, information and interactive opportunities interested the class - obviously the more interactive elements attracted them most, but then many paused at the written information to read and discuss. When children asked questions, it was easy for me to show them how to use the exhibit signs and they were soon independent with this skill. Toilets were plentiful for both girls and boys - we took less than five minutes to get 24 children toileted, and there was a spacious area adjacent for lining up once finished so that we did not obstruct any members of the public.

What the venue thought

Sarah Castle, head of learning and engagement at the RAF Museum, said: “We loved welcoming St Joseph’s to the Museum and are fortunate in having sufficient space that we can accommodate whole year groups in one visit.

“Our remarkable collections – six hangars filled with aircraft and stories of the people and the technology that define the Royal Air Force – are perfect for studying subjects from History through to STEM and from Art through to Citizenship. Last year we engaged with over 700 schools - from EYFS right through to KS5.”