Goostrey Primary School in finals of Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2022

Housed in a wooden cabin in the infant playground, the museum at Goostrey Community Primary School is a finalist in the Cuprinol Shed of the Year 2022 Competition.

The museum is curated by the children who decide on each theme and research and learn about natural history topics.

The pupils then prepare materials and text for display, learning about the topic as they go, and then plan and display the material and text to make a creative and inviting shed.  

Teaching assistant Janet Raven, who has been instrumental in creating and progressing the project over the years, said: “Children volunteer and take responsibility for developing a rota to ensure that there is always a curator available to help other children who come to learn, take part in craft activities, keep the place tidy and take down the display at the end of each half term ready for the next new topic.

Lucy Moult, left, and Iona Bradley, both year two pupils

“Children are proud of their displays and the badge they receive identifying them as a curator and it helps them develop and improve their self-esteem.

“The museum is very much for all ages and abilities and those who don’t always enjoy the rougher playtime games can partake in craft activities in the quiet safety of the museum.

“I think the fact that this humble shed is still popular 10 years after it first opened needs celebrating and here we are in the final.

“I never seriously thought that we'd get through to this stage of the competition so we're all very excited and delighted.”

Until July 15 people can find out more about the shed that is a museum and vote for it by visiting readersheds.co.uk/?type=Unexpected/Unique