Latest Updates
Tales from the Rails Exhibition Unveiled on Sheffield Station
On May 28th 2024 WAT were part of the launch of an exhibition at Sheffield Station.
ArtWorks artists created work inspired by Newfield School students’ “Tales from the Rails” stories. ArtWorks SY is an organisation that inspires and helps adults with learning disabilities, autism or both to achieve their potential and develop important life skills through creative workshops and placements.
ArtWorks artists created work inspired by Newfield School students’ “Tales from the Rails” stories. ArtWorks SY is an organisation that inspires and helps adults with learning disabilities, autism or both to achieve their potential and develop important life skills through creative workshops and placements.
“The ArtWorks artists have thoroughly enjoyed listening to the “Tales from the Rails” and learning about the unexpected stories of things that have happened in Sheffield’s rail history. We hope that the artwork created in response to the stories will attract lots of people to scan the QR code within the display, taking viewers to a website page where they can listen to the stories themselves”
-Dominika Rojewska, Arts Coordinator, ArtWorks SY
“East Midlands Railway is delighted to have supported ArtWorks SY and Whitworks Adventures in Theatre, along with the teachers and pupils of Newfield School, with funding for this collaborative community project. The results are a fascinating glimpse into the history of Sheffield railway station, brought to life by the dramatic endeavours of Newfield School. Now even more people will be able to learn about and listen to the stories thanks to this unique exhibition.”
-Alexa Stott, Community Ambassador, for East Midlands Railway
The exhibition will be on Sheffield Station until 27th Aug 2024.
-Dominika Rojewska, Arts Coordinator, ArtWorks SY
“East Midlands Railway is delighted to have supported ArtWorks SY and Whitworks Adventures in Theatre, along with the teachers and pupils of Newfield School, with funding for this collaborative community project. The results are a fascinating glimpse into the history of Sheffield railway station, brought to life by the dramatic endeavours of Newfield School. Now even more people will be able to learn about and listen to the stories thanks to this unique exhibition.”
-Alexa Stott, Community Ambassador, for East Midlands Railway
The exhibition will be on Sheffield Station until 27th Aug 2024.
Ethel
Sheffield’s Early Environmental Activist
Sheffield’s Early Environmental Activist
WAT are proud to be working with the local branch of the Countryside Charity (CPRE PDSY), Newfield School, EMR and Hope Valley and Peak District Community Rail Partnerships to tell the incredible story of Ethel, born in Sheffield to the Ward family but best known today by her surname from her second marriage, Haythornthwaite.
Ethel dedicated her life to protecting the countryside of Sheffield and the Peak District.
WAT’s writer, Paul Whitfield, has written a script and work has started with students from Newfield School in Sheffield who will be performing the play later in the year.
Click here to find out more on our Ethel page.
Ethel dedicated her life to protecting the countryside of Sheffield and the Peak District.
WAT’s writer, Paul Whitfield, has written a script and work has started with students from Newfield School in Sheffield who will be performing the play later in the year.
Click here to find out more on our Ethel page.
Articles in UCL Press
WAT's creative history work features in 2 articles on the UCL Press 'Paper Trails' site.
Click on the titles below to find
'Aliens'? Creative History in the Primary Classroom
and
Aliens: A Play from the Archives
WAT's creative history work features in 2 articles on the UCL Press 'Paper Trails' site.
Click on the titles below to find
'Aliens'? Creative History in the Primary Classroom
and
Aliens: A Play from the Archives
![Picture](/uploads/3/4/9/3/34930406/published/refugee-children-at-grand-val-near-paris-france-where-a-home-has-been-established-for-them-by-the-american-red-cross-american-red-cross-nara-533650.gif?1639594562)
World War 1 Work
WAT’s WW1 themed work is featured in “Children and Conflict”, one of four “open access downloadable legacy-themed e-books” from the ‘Beyond Commemoration: Community, Collaboration and Legacies of the First World War’ project.
Click here to access the books, which can be downloaded as PDFs. Our work is on page 48 of “Children and Conflict”.
WAT’s WW1 themed work is featured in “Children and Conflict”, one of four “open access downloadable legacy-themed e-books” from the ‘Beyond Commemoration: Community, Collaboration and Legacies of the First World War’ project.
Click here to access the books, which can be downloaded as PDFs. Our work is on page 48 of “Children and Conflict”.
WAT is proud to offer effective and exciting Drama PPA or extended Drama projects for primary schools.
![Picture](/uploads/3/4/9/3/34930406/published/wat-oct-17-0783.jpg?1633887487)
What place is there for Drama in the Primary Curriculum?
In Sept 2016, Gertie began delivering Drama PPA for years 3 and 4.
Norbriggs Primary School Head, Paul Scragg, says of Drama that it; “Develops teamwork, cooperation, listening skills, debating skills, empathy, confidence, social etiquette, the list is endless.”
Paul wanted Drama in school because: “Learning is dynamic, and children's ideas/learning can be challenged and accelerated at the point of learning for the greatest impact. Some children were not engaging in the classroom and were being passive learners. However, in Drama it is very evident how the children are working and what their level of understanding is, and the lesson can be adapted to take into account feedback and observation of the children in real time.”
In Sept 2016, Gertie began delivering Drama PPA for years 3 and 4.
Norbriggs Primary School Head, Paul Scragg, says of Drama that it; “Develops teamwork, cooperation, listening skills, debating skills, empathy, confidence, social etiquette, the list is endless.”
Paul wanted Drama in school because: “Learning is dynamic, and children's ideas/learning can be challenged and accelerated at the point of learning for the greatest impact. Some children were not engaging in the classroom and were being passive learners. However, in Drama it is very evident how the children are working and what their level of understanding is, and the lesson can be adapted to take into account feedback and observation of the children in real time.”
WAT are excited to announce that we are now Artsmark Partners. To find out more about what we can offer click here.
Find out more about Artsmark at www.artsmark.org.uk.
Find out more about Artsmark at www.artsmark.org.uk.
WAT specialises in creating exciting and varied experiences with History with schools and their communities.
In the last five years, Gertie and Paul have been involved in facilitating and delivering 8 highly successful Heritage Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Heritage Fund) projects.
WAT’s writer accepts commissions to create plays for children, young people and their wider communities. Recent commissions have been from the University of Nottingham and Heritage Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Heritage Fund) projects.
In the last five years, Gertie and Paul have been involved in facilitating and delivering 8 highly successful Heritage Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Heritage Fund) projects.
WAT’s writer accepts commissions to create plays for children, young people and their wider communities. Recent commissions have been from the University of Nottingham and Heritage Lottery Fund (now the National Lottery Heritage Fund) projects.
WAT’s Gertie Whitfield also accepts commissions to produce resources for History, PSHE, Drama and English.
She has worked with Historic England, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Nottingham and Leeds Beckett University to produce a variety of resources. Gertie specialises in tackling sensitive or challenging subjects through PSHE, History English and Drama.
Visit whitworks.co.uk for more details about this strand of WAT's work.
She has worked with Historic England, Sheffield Hallam University, University of Nottingham and Leeds Beckett University to produce a variety of resources. Gertie specialises in tackling sensitive or challenging subjects through PSHE, History English and Drama.
Visit whitworks.co.uk for more details about this strand of WAT's work.