School groups are invited to become super-sleuths at The Story Museum’s new Mystery Academy exhibition, opening in July. Designed by award-winning author Sharna Jackson and young curators, the display will feature a forensics lab, library and more.
Does your class contain the next generation of super-sleuths? If so, they’re needed to solve the mystery of a missing head teacher. The Story Museum is opening the Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives in July, an interactive exhibition set in a fictional detective boarding school designed by the museum’s young story curators and award-winning children’s mystery author Sharna Jackson (Spy Club, The Street Art Mystery).
“I know this will spark so many readers’ imaginations, and allow children to see themselves as the brave, smart, thoughtful detectives they all are!”
Author, Robin Stevens
What school groups can expect from the new exhibition
The Story Museum celebrates storytelling in all its forms across exhibitions, galleries, performances and immersive experiences. Its latest immersive space, Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives, will include a forensics lab, a library, even a hidden room concealed behind a bookcase, and school groups will follow clues, face puzzles and fine-tune their investigative skills in order to solve the mystery.
Sharna Jackson called the design process “collaborative, imaginative and fun”, explaining that “visitors arrive for a seemingly normal school open day, then quickly find themselves cast as detectives…”
She added that “this is a mystery that rewards looking closely, thinking differently, and trusting your instincts” and encourages visitors “to be active, to question and to notice”.
Real-life detectives and fictional characters
Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives delves into the history of real life detecting, with early fingerprint kits, secret body cameras and more on display. Children will also explore their favourite fictional characters and books from the detecting genre, such as Sherlock Holmes and Inspector Morse.
Robin Stevens, author of Murder Most Unladylike and a creative consultant on the exhibition, said: “The Story Museum is such a special place, and one I’ve loved for years - I’m delighted that they’re putting the mystery genre front and centre of this new exhibition.
“I know this will spark so many readers’ imaginations, and allow children to see themselves as the brave, smart, thoughtful detectives they all are!”
Educational trips to The Story Museum
Teachers and EVCs can book a bespoke learning session at the museum which caters for all age groups. Curriculum links include literacy, English literature, PSHE and geography. Tailored sessions include a City Story Walk, suitable for Years 2-13 which takes pupils on a story-themed walk through Oxford to see iconic places in the city that inspired its most famous fantasy writers.
Any session that includes a Galleries tour will include access to the Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives exhibition. There’s a lunch room available for school groups to book and the option of goody bags to hand out at the end of an educational session. There is a coach drop-off point a short walk from the museum.
Mystery Academy: School for Young Detectives opens on 18th July and will run for 12 months.
For more information about school visits to The Story Museum go to www.storymuseum.org.uk
