From 2022–2024 St John’s Green Primary School in Colchester, Essex, has worked on the project One Square Mile: Heritage on our Doorstep, made possible by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Through this project we have rewritten our history curriculum by researching our incredibly rich local history, right here on our doorstep, within walking distance of our school.

Every member of staff and pupil in the school has engaged with, worked on and contributed to this project, supported by our freelance team, professional experts and project supporters – thank you, we couldn’t have achieved it without you!

Our teachers and pupils have learnt new skills and gained understanding of the historical sites and the people who lived in our community. We have promoted understanding and evidencing of historic documents and collating source material. Each year-group has researched a designated time period, interpreting information for this resource. They have learnt to carefully observe the heritage in their locality through drawing and sketching, leading to creating incredible 3-dimensional cardboard sculptures.

The heritage sites and people who made our community over time, have been mapped on this unique digital platform, which maps and layers our heritage through the ages, illustrated by our research, oral history recordings, interpretation and drawings. Each layer is based around a year-groups creative investigation of local historic areas and key periods.