Overview

The 2XL project about the 'Giant's Grave' site in Cherry Hinton has now finished. The project was attended by about 45 students over the last year, who volunteered to do project work on top of their normal school curriculum. Voluntary hours amounted to about 700 and included parent helpers and external experts.

What did the students learn? The list is as long as your arm! Different groups experienced archaeological dig techniques, live radio interviews, how to build an Iron Age house, botanical drawing, surveying using a theodolite, construction of website pages, how a metal detector works, local history interviews with residents, digital photography, and the study of old maps.

The dig produced new evidence of a medieval church working in Cherry Hinton - something that was known about but not proven before.

There is a report, a published leaflet and a permanent board at the site and a display in the school. Students will be talking about the project to primary school children and the local history group.

Our thanks go to the Archaeological Field Unit at Fulbourn (our 'experts'), Cambridge City Council (the landowners) and the Local Heritage Initiative of the Countryside Agency (our funders) for making it all possible.

Headteacher reports

2XL is a unique group with a unique success story. There are very few parent led initiatives like this in the country and even less that have been so innovative and creative. I hope that parents will continue to be involved and that the drive to provide a range of enrichment opportunities is sustained and built upon.

I offer my personal thanks and the thanks of St Bede's to Ann Sanderson whose energy and vision are indefatigable! Our studetns have been fortunate to have benefited from all the experiences of 2XL.

Jan Hunt