Thomas Gainsborough School is the first in Suffolk to achieve the prestigious Heritage Schools Award. The award recognises the work of schools and students who actively engage with their local heritage and undertaken work to preserve it. The award is given to schools by the Heritage Schools Programme.
The aim of the Heritage Schools Programme from Historic England, the public body that looks after England's historic environment, is for every child to be inspired by their local heritage and enjoy real learning opportunities; to develop a sense of pride in where they live; to understand their local heritage and how it relates to the national story.
Students from our school took part in a heritage project based around the history and heritage of the silk industry in Sudbury, and how it shaped and influenced the development and influence of the town. As part of the project, students conducted interviews with members of the silk industry both current and former, recorded and edited footage in coordination with a media company and have even become qualified oral historians in order to formally enter their interviews and findings into the historical record. The completed work can be seen at the ‘Sudbury silk stories’ website, including the finished short film.
At Thomas Gainsborough School we have a nominated heritage lead (Mr Clark) and are excited to engage with any opportunities to expand our work on the heritage of our community.
