What is Untold Stories?
Step into the stories that history forgot.
Untold Stories is an exciting creative learning programme, developed in partnership with the National Museum of the Royal Navy and Portsmouth Music Service, inspired by the Royal Navy Museum's ongoing Untold Stories initiative at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
This unique initiative explores the people, experiences and voices that often go unheard in traditional historical narratives. Through music, storytelling and cross-arts activities, pupils will discover new perspectives on our maritime heritage while developing their own creativity, confidence and performance skills.
The programme begins with a dedicated free teacher CPD event and culminates in a large-scale celebration at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, bringing schools together to share their own creative responses to the theme of the sea.
Teacher CPD Event
Join colleagues from across the city for an inspiring afternoon of professional learning, designed specifically for KS1 and KS2 teachers.
The Untold Stories Teacher CPD event, which will take place at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, will equip you with everything you need to deliver a rich and engaging learning experience in your classroom.
This engaging afternoon on Friday 22 January will provide brand-new songs, ready-to-use lesson schemes, curriculum resources, practical teaching examples and opportunities to share best practice with colleagues.
12:30 | Arrival and Complimentary Lunch
13:20 | Session 1
14:20 | Networking Break
14:45 | Session 2
Whether you are a music specialist, class teacher, or arts co-ordinator, you will leave with practical resources and creative approaches that help pupils connect with history through music, storytelling and performance.
Summer Dockyard Event
The initiative also offers schools the opportunity to take part in an optional unique follow-on experience, where pupils will enjoy a day of cross-arts workshops before performing together in a spectacular massed showcase at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
On Friday 2 July, pupils will embark on an exciting creative journey around Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, exploring the site's rich maritime heritage through a series of hands-on workshops led by professional artists and educators.
Throughout the day, children will participate in engaging music, drama and visual arts activities, uncovering stories from the past while developing their own creative responses to the theme of the sea.
Alongside the workshops, schools will come together for a shared rehearsal in preparation for a spectacular massed performance at the end of the day. Beginning at 10:00am, the event culminates in a free public performance at 1:30pm, where families and friends are invited to celebrate the pupils' achievements. Each school will perform two community songs learnt as part of the project, alongside a prepared performance of their own choosing, inspired by the sea, making for a vibrant and memorable showcase of creativity, collaboration and storytelling.
Places are limited to 32 pupils (one class) per participating school. Please note the number of participating schools is also limited, so early sign up is recommended.
Schools that wish to take part in the summer event, must attend the CPD event on 22 January.