In July 2025 we announced the launch of a brand-new programme, Adopt A School. The initiative adds to our popular schools programme 12,000 pupils and 100 schools across Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness every year.
For the 25/26 academic year, we ‘adopted’ Belle Vue Primary School, with whom we had a well-established relationship and who we knew shared a strong commitment to raising aspirations and developing community pride.
The project aimed to support pupils to undertake a local history research project supported by their teachers and Tullie, with the following outcomes:
- Research content and contribute to the design of a historical walking trail between Belle Vue Primary School and Tullie
- Help to curate an exhibition case in Tullie, showing objects that represent their research areas
- Take part in a ‘Takeover Day’ in Summer 2026 to experience working in a museum and launch the trail and exhibition case
The project was launched in September 2025, with pupils taking part in two days of activities in Tullie and their school. Pupils worked with the Learning Team to explore approaches to research, as well as to study objects, documents and photographs to uncover the stories they told. Children also looked at existing trails developed by Tullie to think about different engagement techniques and met with the Curatorial Team to learn about how we care for our objects and curate displays.
Following the launch, groups of pupils spent time researching six areas: Belle Vue, Newtown, Engine Lonning, the Infirmary, Carr’s and Luguvalium. Thinking about how to collate their research and add a digital element to the walking trail, the school decided to create a webpage for each area, linking this with their Computing Curriculum for Year 6. Each area of the website includes the children’s research, artwork, photographs, audio and interviews they conducted with local experts; from archaeologists to General Managers, retired nurses to fine art experts, social history enthusiasts to those promoting and protecting our local rivers. Check out their fantastic website by clicking here.
To further support the development of the trail design and content, Creative Managers were nominated by each group to meet with our Learning team who then produced the Belle Vue to Tullie Historical Walking Trail, an engaging, informative and fun trail for families and individuals to follow. You can pick up a physical trail in Tullie or download one to print at home here.
The project concluded with a Tullie Takeover Day on Wednesday 8 July, where pupils got to show off all their hard work and officially launch the trail and new exhibition case. Pupils were stationed throughout Tullie engaging with friends, family and members of the public, sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm about Carlisle and explaining to others how they could get involved in the trail and visit the website. Pupils also guided visitors to view objects on display in the existing Carlisle Gallery that linked with their research as well as highlight the new project exhibition case. They collected feedback, sold shop products and took part in a Curatorial Activity, giving them an insight into what it’s like to work at a museum. At the end of their takeover, all the pupils were presented with a certificate and vouchers for a discount on annual tickets for their family.
Evaluation of the project has shown the meaningful impact it has had on the children involved and the feedback from visitors, partners and the public is overwhelmingly positive, praising the hard work the pupils have put in.
We can’t wait to see the pupils back in Tullie with their families and know that the trail will continue to be enjoyed for many years to come by all Carlisle residents.
