Lottery grant will help Angmering pupils unearth untold stories

Pupils and staff at St Margaret’s CE Primary School, in Arundel Road, will soon be donning their detective hats after receiving a grant worth several thousand pounds, to begin a special history project later this year.

The study, entitled Chalk to Mouse: A History of the National Society, will examine and record the history and development of more than two centuries’ worth of education within church schools in the area.

The project is part of a wider study, with four other schools, from East and West Sussex, to see how local communities have developed and evolved over time. Each of the schools will share a portion of the £45,300 total grant awarded by the HLF, to conduct their own research.

St Margaret’s head teacher, David Boreham, said that the entire school was excited by the heritage award.

He said: “We have been given about £9,000 to put towards professional training for pupils and volunteers, on interview technique and research methods.

“We’re uniquely placed out of the other schools. We have documentation that goes back almost 150 years. So it’s going to be a fascinating task.”

As part of the project, pupils from St Margaret’s will re-enact scenes from the past, from Victorian banquets and parties, to the grim days of the Second World War.

These re-enactments will then be recorded by a professional film company onto a DVD and sent to other church schools in the area, as well as local libraries and museums.

The school is now looking for volunteers to help with the project. David said: “If you know something about the history of our school and can contribute by sending in photos or by coming in to speak to the children, then please do get in touch with us.”

The study is set for completion in November. Anyone who can help should call the school on 01903 785416.