Wednesday, 3rd April 2019

M&S Company Archive Kids Takeover Online Exhibition

We’ve handed over the entire exhibition to eight groups of young people. They have re-curated each display case, from choosing which objects to show to writing the labels. As well as showcasing some objects that have never been selected before, our young curators have given a fresh new voice to the M&S story - the whole process has been in their hands.

We asked pupils to think creatively and use their imagination to interpret the objects without any background information. This meant using observational and creative writing skills, as well as some historical knowledge. Next to the lightbulb symbol on the labels you will see this first impression and interpretation of the object.

We then sent each group a selection of archive material related to their objects. This could be a press release about an exciting new product or a report showing how many we sold of a particular item. Pupils used these primary sources to find factual information about the objects, developing their enquiry and literacy skills. Their research allowed them to write a second label reflecting this new-found knowledge - seen next to the magnifying glass symbol.

We wanted Kids Takeover to be accessible to everyone, wherever they were, so the entire project took place online, using a platform called Padlet. Working in this way allowed us to build a conversation with the schools, sharing information and ideas and tracking the progress of the project.

We have turned all the children’s hard work into real-life exhibition displays at the Company Archive, installing 135 items and 270 labels!

You can find out more from the children themselves by watching the films they have made about taking part in Kids Takeover.

Each group has a section below, you can see all of their object labels, read their About Us message and watch their films by clicking on the links.

1900-1920: Moortown Primary School Year 6, Leeds

Read more about Moortown Primary School

Read all of Moortown Primary's labels here

1920-1940: Millbrook Primary School Year 4, Greater Manchester

Read more about Year 4 at Millbrook Primary School

Read all of Millbrook Primary's labels here

The pupils at Millbrook Primary have made a fabulous film to tell us more about their Kids Takeover. Click here to watch...

1940-1949: Cedar Park School Year 6, Hazlemere, Buckinghamshire

Read more about Cedar Park School

Read all of Cedar Park's labels here

Year 6 at Cedar Park made a brilliant film about their experience of taking part in the Kids Takeover, click here to watch...

1950-1960: Holy Name Catholic Voluntary Academy Year 6, Leeds

Read more about Holy Name Catholic Voluntary Academy

Read all of Holy Name Academy's labels here

Year 6 at Holy Name have put together an amazing film to tell you more about their Kids Takeover project, click here to watch...

1960-1970: Millbrook Primary School Year 5, Greater Manchester

Read more about Year 5 at Millbrook Primary School

Read all of Year 5's labels here

1970-1990: Home Educated Families

Read more about the Home Educated families here

Read all of the Home Educated families' labels here

The Home Educated families made a wonderful film that introduces everyone and takes you on their Kids Takeover journey. Click here to watch...

1990-2010: Bramley Park Academy Year 3, Leeds

Read more about Bramley Park Academy here

Read all of Bramley Park Academy's labels here

Year 3 at Bramley Park created a super video about taking part in the Kids Takeover, click here to watch...

2010 Onwards: Hipperholme Grammar Junior School Form 4, Halifax

Read more about Hipperholme Grammar Junior School here

Read all of Hipperholme Junior School's labels here

Form 4 have made an awesome film about their favourite bits of Kids Takeover, click here to watch...

The Archive team are thrilled with the Kids takeover exhibition, it's turned out so much better than we could have hoped, which is all down to the enthusiasm, hard work and wonderful imaginations of everyone involved. Thank you!!