Launch of new text book and web resources for Middle Schools on 'The Great Siege'

The Minister for Education Gilbert Licudi QC, launched a new resource for teaching local history in our schools. The book has been produced by the Heritage Trust and the Department of Education. This school text book, aimed at Key Stage 2 School Children, breaks this critical episode in Gibraltar’s history into 10 easily digestible topics that will undoubtedly spur the reader into wanting to discover more about this period of Gibraltar’s history. The book is highly illustrated with new resources and maps and museum quality images and original artworks from the period. There is further support with an online website and learning resource (www.gibraltarheritagetrust.org.gi/explore/schools) that can be made use of in the classroom and at home to further support the learning process. Great Siege, Gibraltar’s 14th and longest military siege, took place between June 1779 and February 1783. There are a great number of historical sites, fortifications and batteries dating to this period such as the King’s Bastion, Grand Battery, the Upper Galleries and the Northern Defences surviving today which make the study of this particular subject even more
exciting and interesting.

The Gibraltar Heritage Trust and the Department of Education are justifiably proud to have been able to see this essential resource for our younger generations become a reality. We hope to build on this in the years to come and produce a series of local history modules to help support teachers already tackling these subjects with their classes. The Chairman and Board of the Trust and the Director of Education, Joey Britto would like to thank Mr Keith Sheriff, teacher at St Anne’s Middle School and trustee of the Heritage Trust for all his hard work on this project’

Minister Licudi said:
“I am delighted to accept this book on behalf of the teachers and children who will be enjoying its use. I hope that the use of locally produced resources will help our young fully understand who we are as a people and help gain better insight into our development as a people through the teaching of local history.”