About Us

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Stalham High School had already worked with the local library to develop the Big Community Read. Through reading ‘War Horse’, by Michael Morpurgo, the School Librarian, Julia Lester, realised how important it was that students had a wider understanding of the local impact of war. Together with Nicola Hems, the Curator at the Museum of the Broads, a project was developed to help students to develop that understanding and involve them in the local community.

The project was a brilliant opportunity to learn more about a conflict which shaped the Twentieth Century and from which we see visual reminders every time we walk through our villages or drive through the countryside. It also brought different generations together to explore how people lived 100 years ago.

Students were nominated by teachers and then self-selected to take part in the project and this on their part represented quite a commitment; the documentary group of Anthony, Daniel, Megan and Sam stayed for an additional two hours interviewing filming and photographing on a Tuesday night, and the animators, India, Martha, Will, Archie, Sam B, Sam N, Ben, Dominic and Robert, gave up their Friday evenings to get the drawn and art content of the DVD completed.

Over the six weeks it was great to see students’ confidence grow and their abilities increase, both technically and artistically. They will remember this experience; the skills they learned, the people they met, and the fascinating stories they have been told, for years to come.

The film production was facilitated by Martin Sercombe of Media Projects East. He trained the students in documentary and animation production skills, then edited the short films with advice and guidance from local historians and curator Nicola Hems. For some sessions, the animation team was also supported by Britta Pollmuller.