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Operation

Spitfire

4 Schools

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HOW TO

See how our programme works

PRIMARY
SECONDARY
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Primary CURRICULUM

Access our primary resources designed by experts

EXAMPLE LESSON
CURRICULUM MAP
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Secondary CURRICULUM

Access our secondary resources designed by experts

EXAMPLE LESSON
CURRICULUM MAP
Front of Spitfire in gallery.
Reginald Mitchell portrait.
Operation Spitfire 4 Schools roundel

About Operation Spitfire 4 Schools

We’re thrilled to have you join us on this exciting journey to enhance your students’ STEM knowledge and skills through an engaging and relevant curriculum. At the same time, we aim to deepen their understanding of history and instill in them pride in the vital role Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire played during World War II. Through this programme, we also hope to inspire students to explore careers in design, engineering, and science. Fields full of incredible opportunities right here in the region.

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Creativity

We want children to be creative thinkers. We want them to take risks, to try out fresh approaches to problems

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Curiosity
Children should be led by their desire to learn, understand new things and be driven by enquiry
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Inclusion

We want students to learn about and celebrate the diversity of people involved in the Spitfire’s enduring success

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RELEVANCE
We want the children to appreciate that the skills, attitudes and values of those involved in the Spitfire’s story are relevant today

What do we Offer You?

A High-Quality Curriculum: Created by leading STEM and history experts.

Real-World Relevance: Mapped to regional employer competency frameworks and national benchmarks.

Flexibility for Teachers: Designed to adapt to the needs of your students.

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Expertly Designed Curriculum

Engaging lessons created by specialists in STEM and history complemented with engaging STEM kits which we will provide (parts to keep and larger items on loan)

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Spitfire Gallery Visit & Workshop

A hands-on experience at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery with a short stint as a pilot in the Spitfire Cockpit simulator for every child

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Student Project & Competition

Exciting opportunities for students to showcase their creativity, with amazing prizes to be won!

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School Visit by a Spitfire Expert

An inspiring session led by an aviation or Spitfire specialist

Montage of images of people during World War 2. Including Rita Baines and Reginald Mitchell.

DELIVERY OPTIONS AND PRICING

Our programme is suitable for primary and secondary schools

VIEW DELIVERY OPTIONS
VIEW PRICING

EXPERTLY CURATED

Our lesson resources have been developed by an outstanding team, including:

  • STEM-accredited practitioners
  • A History Advanced Skills Teacher (AST)
  • The Potteries Museum & Art Gallery education team
  • Experts from Operation Spitfire, the RAF, and local historians
  • The Design & Technology Lead at Pearson Education

The programme has been piloted in five local schools, with over 150 students participating. It was independently evaluated by Dr. Leila Walker Khouja from the University of the West of England’s Education Faculty to ensure quality and impact.

Montage of photos. Spitfire simulator, spitfire cockpit and spitfire models.
Illustration of front of flying Spitfire.

Spectacular Spitfire Facts

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0
Spitfires Built
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0.5
Spitfires Left
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0.5
STILL AIRWORTHY
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1000
Spitfire Maiden Flight

Flexible, Teacher-Friendly Resources

We believe you, the teacher, are the expert on your students’ needs. That’s why our resources are designed to be both flexible and adaptable. You can follow the lessons as they are or tailor them to suit your learners. We encourage creativity and curiosity to make this programme accessible to all.
VIEW LESSON EXAMPLE - PRIMARY
VIEW LESSON EXAMPLE - SECONDARY
Illustration of a spitfire and a group of colleagues in front of a spitfire

Careers Mapping

To ensure the programme’s relevance, all resources are aligned with the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Employer Competency Framework Index and the Gatsby Benchmarks.
Join us in empowering your students with vital STEM skills, historical insights, and a vision for their future. Together, we can inspire the next generation of innovators and leaders!
VIEW MAPPING
"I used to think I hate science but now I think I love science because you can learn so much from it."
Primary Student Mill Hill Academy
Primary Student
"It was good for our knowledge because as we grow up it might inspire us to be an engineer."
Primary StudentMill Hill Academy
Primary Student
"I used to hate science. I really enjoyed this and hope lessons in science will be more like this."
Secondary studentHayward Academy
Secondary student
"I think I’m more interested as I can link what we study with real life - like forces on a pilot."
Secondary studentTrentham Academy
Secondary student
"When we get a chance to do our own thing - that’s fun."
Secondary studentHayward Academy
Secondary student
"My mum texted my teacher and said I have learnt so much from my daughter you should do it again."
Primary StudentMill Hill Academy
Primary Student
"More people should get to go visit the museum. It was so much fun."
Secondary studentTrentham Academy
Secondary student
"The museum trip and visitors to the school ‘ignited’ their pupils - helping to bring the content they had covered in class to life."
Primary teacherMill Hill Academy
Primary teacher
"This project really ignited a spark in their interest in STEM."
Primary teacherMill Hill Academy
Primary teacher
"I have two kids now who say they want to be pilots."
primary teacherSmallthorne Academy
primary teacher
"They did such a great job. These are school refusers standing up in front of strangers."
Secondary teacherHayward Academy
Secondary teacher
"It opened their awareness of particular career paths that were available to them."
Secondary teacherTrentham Academy
Secondary teacher
"Emma was asking them at the museum ‘was it just men’ and they said ‘no’ and told her all the different women and people from different backgrounds who helped."
Secondary teacherHaywood Academy
Secondary teacher

Find Out More About Operation Spitfire