What's New for 2008
In 2006 Croxteth received its 5th Sandford Award for Excellence in Heritage Education. We are now one of a handful of places to have held this award for 25 years!
The Croxteth Learning experience.
Croxteth learning opportunities are valued highly by schools. We had over 15,000 visits to our facilities from schools and other educational groups in 2006 - 2007 and our numbers continue to show an excellent approval rating (based on feedback returns).
Storytelling
Storytelling at Croxteth continues to grow in popularity.We have been working with our story tellers for several years now and they have developed a range of stories that tie in with our history, children's classics and the literacy strand. The success of Mischief Fair, initiated in October 2006 has led to a repeat in 2007 and again will be available in October 2008. The timing of this programme around National Poetry Day, on October 9th, can help develop poetry and prose topics: the theme this year will be 'Work'.
Activity Days
Our activity days are very popular with KS3 schools, where the whole year group can participate in a varied day of activities - from problem solving and quiz trails to sports and team building games. We are now also catering for groups such as Gifted & Talented, Sure Start, Kids in Bloom and various summer schools who wish to engage with organised activities over the summer holiday period.
Free transport.
Liverpool schools from NRF areas qualify for free transport on the Culture Bus - contact Catherine Murphy on 233 8241 for details. The bus can seat up to 39 people and will need to be booked through the Culture Bus Co-ordinator. Please note the the Culture Bus has limited availability.
NEW School Visit - Halls and Houses (KS2)
As Liverpool stages its year as European Capital of Culture, we invite schools to visit two very different but equally remarkable buildings, St. George's Hall with its Great Hall and Victorian law courts and Croxteth Hall, a former home of the Earls of Sefton. Our new visit Halls and Houses offers a full day experience at these two outstanding historic sites. Both offer opportunities to study Victorian topics, exploring St George's Hall in the heart of the city's World Heritage Quarter and Croxteth Hall set in beautiful parkland, the legacy of the Country House estate.
New Storytelling (EY / Foundation Stage)
The Horse in the House
The storyteller, dressed as a Victorian lady, remembers stories her Grandma told about her own childhood when she played with Lord Sefton's children and they were taught to ride ponies. She recalls rhymes and poems that involve sounds and a game about horses that was popular with all the children in the big house. Some of the large collectiopn of equine paintings in the House are used to show examples of horses belonging to the people who lived at Croxteth in the old days and the party search for a shy 'horse' hiding in one of the rooms!
Nature Reserve for Park
Croxteth Local Nature reserve is now one of the finest wildlife areas in Liverpool. Along with the existing Mull Wood LNR, we have added more woodland, grazing and grassland and a new wildflower meadow to create the new Croxteth Local Nature Reserve. Access to the reserve has been improved and schools are encouraged to use it as a learning resource.
Quality Assured Visitor Attraction
Our park is now a 'Quality Assured Visitor Attraction' - an award presented after an annual screening process by Visit Britain which assessed Croxteth for its facilities and level of service.
Ranger Interpretation Service
The Liverpool Rangers have relocated to Croxteth Hall and joined forces with the Croxteth team. This newly formed Ranger Interpretation Service will draw on a wide range of resources to deliver a varied education programme to schools throughout the year.
Walled Garden Picnic Area!
The area of lawns inside the Walled Garden has a great space for groups to picnic or use. The venue is ideal for a peaceful lunch, storytelling, etc (not suitable for active games). We have a limited number of foam mats available for classes to borrow from the Garden shop entrance. Available for groups that have Garden or Saver tickets to all the areas - and should be booked in advance.
Tudor Courthouse
The Old Courthouse in West Derby Village - the courthouse has changed little since Tudor times and is now open to the public on Sundays in the summer and for school groups by arrangement - contact us for details.
"Every single person we came in contact with at the Hall was terrific." Great Crosby Catholic Primary School