New schools programme will bring “remarkable story” of Trent Park House alive

Trent Park House will soon be homes to a new Second World War museum (inset credit James Clarke) — Trent Park House will soon be home to a new Second World War museum (inset credit James Clarke)

A new schools programme will teach Barnet children about the history of the ‘secret listeners’ who used a North London mansion to gather intelligence during the Second World War.

Trent Park House of Secrets, a new museum opening at Trent Park in Enfield this summer, has launched the lottery-funded education programme which is aimed at children in both Enfield and Barnet aged from eight to eleven years.

Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund and now open for bookings, the schools programme brings the “remarkable story” of Trent Park House alive through immersive drama and historical investigation.

During the Second World War, Trent Park House was requisitioned by the British government and transformed into a prisoner-of-war camp for high-ranking German officers. Unknown to the captives, the entire house and grounds were fitted with cutting-edge listening equipment. The intelligence gathered by the secret listeners – including many women and refugees – helped shape the course of the war.

The ‘Sharing Stories’ education programme has been co-created with partner schools and London-based Freshwater Theatre Company.

Prior to each workshop, students will discover a mysterious worn leather bag filled with intriguing objects. Through a student-led investigation, the class pieces together the story of its owner: a German Jewish refugee who worked as a secret listener at Trent Park House during the Second World War.

The programme addresses key curriculum requirements in history while providing students with a “nuanced understanding of refugee experiences” and “the often-overlooked role of migrants in British history”.

Sharondeep Jawanda, the new schools manager working for Trent Park House of Secrets, said: “I’m excited to reintroduce the schools programme which invites local children to uncover the extraordinary hidden histories of the secret listeners.

“The programme encourages pupils to listen carefully, ask bold questions and explore the power of communication and empathy. These hidden histories deserve recognition, and we’re thrilled to work with Freshwater to make them accessible to young learners in an engaging and meaningful way.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how pupils connect with and explore these powerful histories.”

Director Giuseppe Albano added: “Sharondeep brings fantastic experience working with schools, families and communities, and we’re delighted to have her leading this programme.

“The story of Trent Park House centres on one of the most remarkable and least-known intelligence operations of the Second World War, and it’s especially important that young people understand the role played by the secret listeners, many of whom had escaped Nazi persecution and went on to contribute to Britain’s war effort.

“Thanks to support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, we can share this hidden history with schools even before the museum opens.”

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