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Freelance Cultural Education Resource Developer
Contract: Freelance (approximately 10 days)
Fee: £2,500 (£250 per day)
Reporting to: Head of Learning & Participation, Sunderland Culture
Location: Remote, some meetings on site at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens
Start date: w/c 6 July
Deadline: 5pm, Thursday 25 June
Sunderland City Council, in partnership with Sunderland Culture, is seeking a freelance Education Resource Developer to create a suite of curriculum-linked resources and session plans for schools.
About the role
This commission forms part of the Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens Redevelopment Project and will support the development of the museum’s education “meanwhile” programme, ensuring schools can continue to access high-quality cultural learning while the building undergoes change.
The successful freelancer will develop engaging, accessible and enquiry-led resources inspired by Sunderland’s local history, heritage, natural environment and significant stories. The resources should be practical for teachers, museum educators and learning practitioners, and suitable for learners with a range of needs, abilities and confidence levels.
The commission will include:
- Four completed learning resources/ session plans:
- A KS2 local history resource pack on coal mining heritage and the Leifchild Report, 1841
- An adapted KS1 & 2 classroom resource based on the Victoria Hall Disaster
- A local animals and habitats resource for KS1 & 2
- A Rebel Women of Sunderland learning resource for KS2, 3 & 4
- Teacher/practitioner notes
- Curriculum links
- Suggested access and inclusion adaptations
- Supporting activity sheets, prompts or templates where needed
- A short handover session with the Museum Learning Team
The freelancer will work with Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens and Sunderland Culture’s Learning & Programme Team. Resources should be provided in a clear, editable format suitable for future design, formatting and download.
Person specification
We welcome applications from freelancers with experience in cultural, creative, museum, heritage, arts or education settings.
We are particularly interested in hearing from people who can create accessible, inclusive and engaging resources for schools and learners with a range of needs.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Experience in museum, heritage, arts, cultural or creative education
- Experience developing school resources, education packs or learning sessions
- Strong curriculum knowledge, particularly around primary/local history
- The ability to write clearly for teachers, learners and practitioners
- Experience creating inclusive, accessible and multi-sensory learning activities
- An understanding of enquiry-led, object-based or creative learning
- The ability to work sensitively with local histories and difficult subject matter
- Knowledge of Sunderland’s heritage, or willingness to undertake focussed research
Timeline & fee
Application deadline: 5pm, Thursday 25 June
Candidate appointed: w/c 29 June
Project start date: w/c 6 July
Contract length: Approximately 10 freelance days
Fee: £2500
How to apply
To apply, please send the following to Vicki Kennedy:
vicki.kennedy@sunderlandculture.org.uk
- a short expression of interest outlining your relevant experience
- examples of similar education or resource development work
- a brief outline of your proposed approach
- confirmation of your availability
- a CV or short biography
- details of two references or previous clients, where available
Deadline for applications is 5pm, Thursday 25 June
If you would like to have an informal chat before applying for the role, please contact Vicki Kennedy on the email address above.
This commission forms part of Sunderland City Council’s Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens Redevelopment Project with investment from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and will support the development of the museum’s education “meanwhile” programme, ensuring schools can continue to access high-quality cultural learning while the building undergoes change.
Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens redevelopment
