Museum Learning

Moments of change

The current exhibition looks at moments of change in history, particularly related to the Second World War.

27 January 2025 marked the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In the exhibition you can see images from the liberation of Nazi concentration camps and quotes from those liberated and the liberators. Alongside the images you can see a British Red Cross parcel. Many people of different nationalities worked together in the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps. Soldiers of Allied armies, doctors, nurses, relief workers, priests and rabbis all played a role.

In House Tutor Time students reflected on why witness testimonies are important. They also discussed their role in creating a better future where people are not suffering from prejudice, discrimination or persecution.

The exhibition also introduces students to the seminal moment in 1960 when Ella Fitzgerald sung Mack the Knife in Berlin. A Jewish composed song in a Nazi designed building, this was an important moment of solidarity, celebration and hope. You can also see pieces of the Berlin Wall.

Museum Club

In Museum Club students from Year 7, 8 and 9 have been researching objects from the collection and creating their own exhibition labels.

A Yew Tree or a Monster?

Without context does literature lose its meaning?
Year 7 students visited a Yew Tree within the grounds of St Mary’s Church. This sensory exploration supported students to analyse the symbolism used within ‘A Monster Calls’. The visit enabled students to develop their ideas and vocabulary which helped them to write higher quality poetry in response to the Yew Tree.

Observing the Universe

This term Year 7 took part in a virtual museum session led by Christopher Parkin from the History of Science Museum. Students learnt how to connect observations of the universe to theories and explanations.

Our Collection

We have catalogued our 100th object. This beautiful pair of pants from the 1940s or 1950s were lovingly knitted for a child.

The Museum Learning Team have been working hard to catalogue the objects they care for. It is a slow but steady process that will grow over time. If you are interested in finding out more about the objects we have, you can view our collection here:

The Arbib Education Trust