NORTHAMPTONSHIRE BUSINESSES

In January 2023 The Chester House Estate launched its Irchester Field School Learning Programme - an engaging learning programme running alongside the archaeological excavation this June. The programme, which goes beyond a normal school trip and our standard offer, will engage 1800 students with their local heritage and provide inspiration for possible careers.

Archaeologists from the School of Archaeology and Ancient History (SAAH) at the University of Leicester and University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), with Chester House Estate staff and volunteers, will lead a unique series of workshops where students will:

• be introduced to the different stages of archaeological research, from landscape survey techniques, to mapping and geophysical survey

• handle a wide range of artifacts and ecofacts, including (but not limited to) coins, pottery and seeds

• gain an understanding of the processes of identification, cleaning, classification and dating finds

• have the opportunity to engage with cuttingedge techniques, including microscopic investigation and photogrammetry (for example, 3D photographic recording of graves)

Many of the concepts taught in schools are conceptual or theoretical. School trips give students the opportunity to link classroom taught concepts to concrete, memorable experiences.

Particularly unique experiences, such as the Irchester Field School, can be the spark that ignites a passion or allows a student to identify a skill that would have otherwise remained undiscovered.

The Irchester Field School costs The Chester House Estate £300 per class of up to 30 students. When added to the average UK coach cost (£400), attending the Irchester Field School could cost a school more than £700 per class, which equates to over £23 per child. Consultation with schools has identified that this is not affordable for most schools or local families, particularly due to the cost-of-living crisis

School trips in Britain are in decline. HMUK commissioned a study of 2,000 teachers and parents who highlighted numerous challenges, including cost of travel, parents not being able to afford to cover additional expenses, entry fees, and lack of staff. Three in ten parents revealed that finances are the main barrier to sending their children on school trips.

Areas in North Northamptonshire, particularly those local to The Chester House Estate, have been especially hard hit. Headteachers directed us to the Indicators of Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI), one of the three English Indices of Deprivation. As illustrated below, according to the IDACI 12 of North Northamptonshire’s Lower Super Output Areas (LSOAs) are amongst the top 10% most deprived in England and 18 fall within decile 2 nationally.

To target high coach costs, The Chester House Estate have developed a partnership with RB Travel who are subsidising the coach cost for schools during the excavation.

To make the Irchester Field School more accessible for local schools, The Chester House Estate has reduced the chargeable cost of the Irchester Field School by 50% which is not sustainable in the long term. The University of Leicester is similarly offering significant support to maximise engagement. We are offering businesses an exciting opportunity to support life-enhancing opportunities for young people focused on local heritage. This additional support will ensure that the Irchester Field School is a sustainable venture and that the programme can continue into the future.

We have put together a selection of sponsorship/partnership opportunities starting from £300 which would support up to 60 students to access the Irchester Field School, through to £6,000 which would sponsor the entire programme for all 1800 students.

Within the sponsorship packages you would have the opportunity to access some of our wonderful facilities at Chester House, including conferencing, meeting rooms and events.

For more information or to get involved, please contact Nigel Anderson, Learning Relationship Officer via email nigel.anderson@northnorthants.gov.uk.