Trent Park House has developed a brand-new learning programme, co-created with partner schools and Freshwater Theatre Company. The learning programme has been made possible with The National Lottery Heritage Fund, with thanks to National Lottery players.
Bookings now open for KS2 workshops in schools up to July 2026.
Learning Objectives
To share the hidden story of the Secret Listeners of the Second World War. To increase children’s knowledge and understanding of the importance of migrants in our country’s history.
Description
Students will discover a worn leather bag with intriguing contents… a student-led investigation will ensue, and they will quickly discern the owner: a German Jewish refugee who worked as a Secret Listener at Trent Park House during WWII. Not expecting a response (but eager to get in touch!), they will send a letter to his last known address and receive an unexpected reply from his grandchild, delighted that the bag has been recovered.
Our facilitator, in role as the grandchild, will arrive at your school and lead the children in an hour-long workshop bringing the grandfather’s story to life through drama techniques such as role play, freeze-frames and hot-seating. Students will explore a day in the life of a Secret Listener; learn the process for how intelligence was recorded and passed on; and consider how the listeners might have felt as refugees in Britain working for the intelligence service.
The session will explore this lesser-known wartime history in an immersive and interactive way, supporting students’ learning and creatively bringing the story of the Secret Listeners to life.
Curriculum links (history):
- an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
- local history case study
Curriculum links (literacy):
- Letter writing
- Speaking and listening
"This opportunity fills the gap in our history curriculum as it is now allowing our students to process and work through the amazing primary sources that Trent Park has on offer.”
Cian Cronin, History Teacher, Bishop Douglass Secondary
To Book
To book a free session, please email schoolsmanager@trentparkhouse.org.uk with the following details:
- Your name and contact details
- School name
- Number of classes and class sizes
- Three potential dates
If the dates you request are unavailable, we will try to offer the closest available dates. A date will be held for 2 working days, while we await the return of the booking form.
Once a booking form has been received by us from a school, a confirmation email will be sent out. If you need to cancel, please let us know as soon as possible.
