Peter Bruff: The Forgotten Engineer Education Programme

Inspiring learning around engineering, train travel and local community history

Events

THE BRIEF

Shining the spotlight on a Victorian engineering mastermind in primary schools across Essex

The Peter Bruff: The Forgotten Engineer educational initiative was created and delivered to primary schools across Essex by KAT Marketing, with funding from the Greater Anglia Customer and Community Improvement Fund. Created to spotlight Peter Bruff's significant contributions to railway engineering and more throughout East Anglia, the project would introduce young people to the importance of engineering and innovation as part of our past and our future.

The project was to be offered free to schools, with benefits including engaging KS1 and 2 pupils in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Maths) learning, connecting learners with local heritage to foster community pride and historical awareness and introducing young people to the value and opportunity that comes from train travel, whilst raising awareness of a forgotten hero of British engineering.

“

We were delighted to be part of the Peter Bruff project – our Year 4 class absolutely loved getting involved in the live art workshop! It was a great chance for them to practise their drawing skills and use their imagination and creativity. We're looking forward to putting the education pack to use across the school and learning more about Peter Bruff and how his engineering work influenced our local area.

Ellie Jaggs

Headteacher of Boxted St Peter's Primary School

OUR APPROACH

Working in partnership to plan an engaging, multi-faceted educational project

The KAT Marketing team worked alongside dual partners East Anglian Railway Museum – a volunteer-run heritage attraction dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of railways in the Eastern Counties – and the Clacton & District Local History Society – a community organisation dedicated to researching, recording and promoting the rich history of Clacton and the surrounding area.

Alongside the creation of the event identity, key deliverable elements of the project would include a Bruff-themed educational activity pack to be provided to participating schools as well as an engaging, interactive digital art workshop to be streamed lived into classrooms, with a recording shared post-event to provide additional future learning opportunities.

Also integral to the campaign would be a targeted engagement campaign with Essex schools, to include digital marketing alongside direct ‘sales’ calls and ongoing communication and support. The KAT Marketing team have a longstanding established relationship with primary schools across the county, from previous campaign delivery, which would assist with school ‘buy in’ and onboarding to the project.

WHAT WE DELIVERED

A term time of fun, hands-on, creative learning

Peter Bruff Education Pack

Aimed at Key Stages 1 and 2, aligned with the National Curriculum
Filled with informative learning resources focused around Bruff’s life and works
Suggested fun learning activities and exercises based around STEAM topics
Heavily researched and collated into engaging, manageable content

Live Digital Art Workshop

Comprised of engaging live footage hosted by KAT’s MD Katie Skingle and pre-recorded fun art activities by professional artist Jenny Leonard
Filmed on location at the East Anglian Railway Museum
Streamed live into classrooms for pupils to interact within lessons
Recording provided post-event allowing schools to catch-up and rewatch in future sessions

Communications Campaign

Ongoing engagement and liaison with Essex schools, including in the form of phone calls and emails
Press activity - including articles in Essex publications such as Newsquest and Essex Life and interviews with Ben Fryer on BBC Essex
Interactive Teams session, attended by multiple schools for attending the art workshop