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The SVR's '''Education Centre''' was based at [[The Engine House]] at [[Highley]]. It provided a range of curriculum based school programmes, details of which may be found on the [https://web.archive.org/web/20121130085411/http://www.svr.co.uk/Education_EventsActivitiesFares.aspx archived SVR Website "Education Service" page] (external link).
==Early history==
The SVR first 'entered the schools market' in Christmas 2002, operating eight "Christmas Cracker Expresses", trains that the railway promoted and operated for Schoolsschools, Nurseries nurseries and Playgroups playgroups separately from the trains advertised in the 'Christmas Services Brochure'. These increased in number to fourteen and sixteen over the next two years.<ref>SVR News 148</ref>
The SVR's Education Department, or "School Education Service" as it was also known, was formed in spring 2003, initially under the direction of Education Officer David Mee. It began by operating two weeks of "Learn With Thomas" events at [[Arley]], which followed a more limited trial of the same event the year before.<ref>SVR News 143, General Manager's notes</ref>
Although the following year's event, "Big Images for Little People" drew smaller numbers, it was sufficiently encouraging to give hope that it would establish itself in future years. An external grant was obtained in 2004 towards funding of the education programme. The SVR was also in the course of submitting an application for grant assistance to the Heritage Lottery Fund for the construction of [[The Engine House]], which required proof that there would will be a significant contribution to general education (of the general public as opposed to the narrower sense of 'school' education) in the project.<ref>SVR News 147</ref> Following approval of construction in late 2005, the Railway advertised the role of Assistant Education Officer<ref>SVR News 152</ref> By Midmid-2006 David Mee had become "Education Services Manager" and Mrs N Taylor was "Education Officer".<ref>SVR News 154</ref>
Services developed to meet the needs of the national curriculum. By 2016 these included:
Some were held in association with [[Safari Park|West Midland Safari Park]], Severn Valley Country Park, the National Trust's Dudmaston Estate, Bewdley museum and Arley arboretum.
When the [[2020 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic|COVID-19 pandemic restrictions]] were introduced, the paid educators were among those roles that became redundant. The education department was not reinstated when the restrictions were removed. {{As of|2024}} education services are not shown on the SVR website.
==References==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20121130085411/http://www.svr.co.uk/Education_EventsActivitiesFares.aspx Archived SVR Website "Education Service" page]
[[Category:Stub articlesLottery funding]]
