Corner Shop Schools Project 08

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Corner Shop Schools Project, Summer 2008

The Corner Shop Schools Project, with two Black Country junior schools, was a mirror project of the Autumn Corner Shop Production. Using the same model, the starting point was the investigation of the lives of those both in front of and behind the counter of small, family-run ‘corner' shops.

Participants explored their local shopping areas, developing observational and communication skills, improving listening skills, learning interviewing techniques, and using recording equipment to document their experiences.

Having gathered stories, images, sounds, and even smells, the collected bank of material then acted as a stimulus from which further creative work was devised.

The project was led and shaped by the imaginations of the participating children and culminated in the children's unique and original response to the findings of their research. This was shared with the wider school and community. The material from the schools work has been recorded in Sandwell borough archives.

This project not only satisfied key areas of the curriculum, but supported any priority areas identified by the school, on a case-by-case basis.

A team of people worked alongside our Learning & Participation co-ordinator, including an archivist from Sandwell Borough Library, staff from English Heritage, a sound designer, and a designer.

The participating schools attended a special schools performance of the site specific Autumn production in West Bromwich in October 2008.

We are grateful to The Sir Barry Trust for their generous support for this project.