Ringstead Church of England Primary School named East Midlands Champion Heritage School by Historic England
Ringstead Church of England Primary School, has been awarded the prestigious Champion Heritage School Award by Historic England, making them one of only eight schools nationally to receive the honour this year, one of sixteen schools in total and the only school in the East Midlands.
The award recognises schools that go above and beyond in teaching and celebrating local history, working closely with community partners to bring the past to life for pupils.
Ringstead’s success follows several years of collaboration with Historic England, local groups and organisations such as Chester House Estate and the Ringstead Heritage Association. The school first achieved the Historic Schools Award last year after years of sustained work linking history to pupils’ lives and their local community.
Headteacher Helen Roberts said: “We don’t do this for awards - we do it because it’s our curriculum and our passion, and the children love it. Our pupils are so enthusiastic about their heritage. This recognition reflects their excitement, our community partnerships and the rich history that surrounds us every day.
“We are thrilled to be leading the way in showing other schools how embedding a love of history into curricular and enrichment activities can be so rewarding for everyone.”
The school’s work in this area has been spearheaded by History Lead, class teacher and trained archaeologist Miss Julia Grunill, who runs an annual archaeological dig on school grounds for pupils, with the results displayed at the Ringstead Heritage Association.
Ismail Dale from Historic England praised Julia’s work and the school’s long-term commitment: “Julia has been outstanding in the way she’s engaged local people and groups, creating real opportunities for them to share their knowledge with the younger generation. Her work has connected local stories, like the research into First World War soldiers displayed in the village church, to national and even international history.
“The archaeology project in particular has been inspiring – it gives pupils first-hand experience of how professionals work, while keeping learning exciting and meaningful. I’m proud that Ringstead is one of our Champion Heritage Schools.”
As part of the Champion Heritage Schools network, Ringstead will now share its expertise nationally, helping Historic England develop and deliver training for other schools. Julia will also present at the organisation’s virtual conference in the new year, showcasing the school’s archaeological dig project run on the school grounds.
The school’s new role also means it has access to new teaching resources, professional networks and funding to enhance the history curriculum – including £2,000 for learning materials and activities linked to Black History Month.
Ruth Walker-Green, CEO of PDET, said: “Ringstead’s achievement is outstanding. Helen and her team have shown what can be achieved when a school roots its curriculum in local heritage. The passion of the staff and pupils makes Ringstead a beacon for others across our Trust and beyond and we are all looking forward to learning more from them.”
The award was presented at a celebration event, following a special lunch attended by staff, pupils and guests, including representatives from Historic England and the local community.
Ringstead’s “History Heroes”, a group of pupils who applied for their roles to help promote history across the school, proudly accepted the award alongside their teacher.
The school continues to enrich learning through visits to places such as Stanwick Lakes, Chester House, and even the Tower of London, while developing bespoke projects such as a whole-school history timeline and local heritage displays.