Sheldon Memorial Trust Schools’ Competition

Since 2015, the Sheldon Memorial Trust has been teaming up with York Archaeological Trust to offer a prize worth £1000 to local primary schools to put towards their study of local history.

With packages of learning activities including attraction visits and field trips, the use of loan boxes and outreach visits to the school by our costumed staff and archaeologists up for grabs, pupils are encouraged to get creative in their applications. Using media of their choice, children can choose to write letters, film videos, draw pictures or make models to tell us the top questions they would like answered about that year’s selected historical period. The class with the most creative and persuasive approach is dubbed the winner.

Previous years have seen students from Stockton-on-the-Forest Primary explore the Prehistoric past of the Yorkshire Wolds, Haxby Road Primary Academy engaging with the Romans through archaeology and a site visit to Aldborough, and Robert Wilkinson Primary investigating the effect of the Vikings on Britain at JORVIK Viking Centre and a new set of their very own replica resources for the classroom.

“Thank you so much for the wonderful experience you gave to the children. The quality of delivery, the build-up to the trip and the opportunity to extend learning both in and out of the classroom was fantastic. The children thoroughly enjoyed the visit as well as the opportunity to handle well-selected artefacts and the trip to Aldborough was great. The knowledge you gave to the children before the visit made it even more special and enjoyable for them.”
— - Fiona Thompson, Year 6 teacher, Haxby Road Primary School, York
 

Sheldon Memorial Trust Schools Competition 2022

The Sheldon Memorial Trust has teamed up with York Archaeological Trust once again to present a unique opportunity: a prize worth £1000 for a primary school in York and its environs to explore York’s history.

This package of learning activities and resources will equip and encourage learners to think about the creation and development of the city by the Romans and the Romano-British, using the expertise of the YAT team and the collections on display at DIG.

You will receive:

  • A series of bespoke virtual outreach sessions, hosted by a member of our expert archaeology team

  • The use of a Roman loan box, packed with replica items and notes to guide you in their interpretation and use

  • A set of crafting resources for you to keep, so that your learners can have a go at some Roman-era crafts for themselves

  • A collection of historical fiction titles by top children’s authors, to add to your school library!

To be in with a chance of winning, tell us your top three questions about the Romans of York. You can do this with letters, drawings, or even a video: your class might enjoy role-playing some aspects of life in Roman Britain! The class with the most creative and persuasive approach will be the winner.

We advise that AV submissions do not run to more than 5 minutes and that written submissions are no more than 1000 words in total. This may mean that a collaborative piece (e.g. a single letter or poster created by a whole class) might be more suitable for your class.

Please send your entry to learningteam@yorkat.co.uk or post it to JORVIK Group Learning Team, DIG, St Saviour’s Church, St Saviourgate, York YO1 8NN. The deadline for submissions is 8th April 2022.


Terms & Conditions

  • Selection of the winning submission will be made by a representative of the Sheldon Memorial Trust and the staff of the Interpretation and Engagement department of The JORVIK Group. No correspondence will be entered into.

  • The Sheldon Memorial Trust Schools Competition is open to schools inside the City of York and schools within a 20-mile radius of the city centre.

  • The prize awarded is non-transferable, and exact content, timings, date and method of delivery will be determined in liaison with the winner by the Interpretation and Engagement department of the JORVIK Group.

  • The closing date for the receipt of submissions is 8th April 2022. This may be altered at the discretion of the JORVIK Group Interpretation and Engagement department. We cannot guarantee the return of submissions.

  • If you have any questions about how to take part, please contact the JORVIK Group Learning Team at learningteam@yorkat.co.uk