Since relaunching as National Justice Museum Education in April 2017, over 2000 students have already taken part in innovative courtroom and museum workshops led by the charity.
National Justice Museum Education, formerly the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law, delivers its educational programmes in prestigious courtrooms and heritage sites across the UK. Sites include The National Justice Museum and City of Caves in Nottingham, The Royal Courts of Justice in London and courtrooms across the North West such as Manchester Civil Justice Centre and Crown Court. Sessions are delivered to groups of all ages and abilities including primary schools, home education, secondary schools, colleges, Universities and even adult education groups. Curriculum links include History, English, PSHE, Citizenship, SMSC and more.
Groups take part in facilitated courtroom workshops where they learn more about the structure of the courts and roles within the courtroom. Participants are able to create, prepare and present a trial in a real courtroom, taking on roles such as the judge, jury, barristers, witnesses and defendant, donning wigs and robes where appropriate. Groups can choose to study either a historic or contemporary civil or criminal case.
Feedback on the new programme has been positive with one Home Educator parent who recently visited the North West team commenting "Today is the first time he's been really inspired and motivated. He's at present researching careers in law...So thank you so much for delivering such an inspirational workshop!"
The organisation aims to help more people to gain a practical understanding of the law and justice system, empowering them to play an active role in their community.
Tim Desmond, Chief Executive of the National Justice Museum, said: “National Justice Museum Education takes children and young people into historic and working courtrooms and gives them the opportunity to gain a practical understanding of the law, past and present. School and college groups get a first-hand knowledge of the law through engagement with our collections and with the support of legal professionals and our education facilitators. The benefits are cross curricular and high impact due to being a unique experience. With our extensive legal collection and being supported by legal experts and our trained education facilitators, we aim to raise aspirations as well as knowledge, reaching all parts of the curriculum, as well as promoting social mobility.”
The charity recently held a number of well-attended education launch events across the country to introduce the new programme and resources. Cheryl Terry, from Prospects Services attended the Teachers’ launch at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and commented “There are great opportunities for schools…see you in July when we have our sessions booked!”
As well as making changes to improve their courtroom workshops and creating new trials for schools to explore, National Justice Museum Education are also delivering new learning activities at the new National Justice Museum in Nottingham. Formerly the Galleries of Justice Museum, the National Justice Museum opened to the public on 1st April 2017 following a £1million Heritage Lottery Fund supported redevelopment project. Year 8 students from Leicester High School recently visited the education team at the Museum, taking part in a Crime and Punishment Museum workshop. One student said: “I enjoyed experiencing the courts and seeing the areas where prisoners lived.”
Groups interested in taking part in a workshop with National Justice Museum Education should visit: www.nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk/education/ or email education@nationaljusticemuseum.org.uk to find out more.
