Ambitious dream to open Britain's first national education museum in Portsmouth takes 'big step forward'
THE dream to open Britain's first national education museum in the birthplace of free schooling has taken a leap forward.
A suitable ‘starter building’ to kickstart the ambitious project has been identified in Portsmouth, an offer accepted and solicitors appointed to seal the deal. It is seen as a welcome and significant step by the trustees of the National Education Museum (NEM).
NEM Secretary Jean Roberts said: ‘This is a very exciting moment and a big step forward in realising our ambition to celebrate and tell the story of education. It’s a challenge, but all the trustees are very much up for this.
‘The property is well placed, not far from the Historic Dockyard and Gunwharf Quays - but also very near to John Pounds cobbler’s shop where hundreds of poor children were educated in the 1800s.’
The aim of the museum is to celebrate the ‘record of remarkable achievements in education’ and the ‘commitment to teaching and learning’ which has been a significant part of the nation's culture over many centuries.
The NEM wants the museum to ‘educate, enlighten and entertain’ providing visitors, in person and online, with fond memories - and amusement - about long-abandoned practices.
The city is seen as an ideal location for the ‘significant’ heritage site as it is already steeped in historical attractions, has its own top-ranking university and was the proud home of John Pounds - the teacher and altruist responsible for the concept of Victorian ‘ragged schools’, which provided free tuition in reading, writing and maths for poor children. The location of the ‘starter building’ is currently being kept under wraps until the deal is done.
A team of trustees has been working up a delivery plan and raising funds since 2017. The project has the backing of city MPs Stephen Morgan and Amanda Martin and among the patrons are Portsmouth physicist and broadcaster Professor Jim Al-Khalili.
The NEM hosted a talk on John Pounds this month by local author and publisher Matt Wingett at Aspex Portsmouth in Gunwharf Quays, He told invited guests how Pounds was left disabled at the age of 15 while working as a dockyard apprentice and retrained as a cobbler to earn his living. In his 40s he dedicated his life to teaching groups of poor children for free.
Earlier at the gallery, children took part in activities set up to mirror the lessons Pounds would have given in English, maths and science activities.
The NEM is looking for others who are interested to help in the project to contact Jean on [email protected]