The Learning Zone is the name of Wembley Stadium's state-of-the-art Education facility which provides exciting learning opportunities for the young people of Brent and beyond. Operating since 2007, this flagship centre is physically based inside the new national stadium and provides a unique, innovative and inspirational learning environment that will engage and captivate any young person.
The Learning Zone is jointly funded Brent Council and Wembley Stadium and was officially unveiled by Children's Minister Kevin Brennan MP on 4th December 2007. Stuart Pearce, England U21 Coach and former Brent resident, was also present to celebrate the opening of the centre and to meet local Brent pupils who were road-testing the new centre for the first time.
The Learning Zone offers a range of fun day activities, six-week courses and bespoke programmes, as well as being a venue for workshops, conferences and celebrations. Equipped with a multitude of desktop computers, laptops, digital cameras, camcorders, Lego Mindstorms (robotics), Lego mechanics and renewable energy kits, scratching desks, arts and crafts materials, STIXX machines and a kitchen; the Learning Zone tailors every experience to the specific needs of individual groups. With direct access to the inner workings of the stadium, each visit is a mixture of educational activities and inspirational walks inside this iconic landmark.
Places of interest:
- The Bobby Moore Statue and restaurant
- 1km chronological, pictorial walk through Wembley’s history
- 1948 Olympic artefacts
- 1966 Cross Bar reception
- 1966 World Cup memorial
- FA replica trophy cabinet
- FA press room
- Wembley mixing tunnel
- England changing room
- Pitch-side
- Cup winners walk
- The Royal box
- Royal banqueting suite
Topics of discussion:
- The Empire Stadium opens - 1923
- White Horse Cup Final - 1923
- London Olympics - 1948
- Muhammad Ali at Wembley - 1963
- Jules Rimet Trophy lost and found
- World Cup winners 1966
- Evel Knievel takes on 13 red buses - 1975
- Pope celebrates mass at Wembley Stadium
- Free Nelson Mandela
- Old Wembley – The Twin Towers - 2000
- New Wembley built - 2004
- New Stadium opens - 2007
- Comparing Olympics 1908, 1948, 2012
- Music at Wembley through the ages
- Other sports played at Wembley
- Facts and figures of the stadium old and new
To enquire or make bookings, please contact the centre manager:
Rajan Anand
Postal address: Wembley Stadium, PO Box 1966, London, SW1P 9EQ
Tel: +44 (0) 844 980 8001 Ext: 6839
Email: rajan.anand@TheFA.com
The Wembley Project
(6 sessions)
Cross Curricular: (Key Stage 2) 15 – 20 participants
Sessions begin with a walk into Wembley’s history followed by a literacy session where students collectively write a book on what they have learned. The second session sees students collect data from The Champions League exhibition before employing their problem solving skills. We explore angles and scale to map out London landmarks, in relation to the Stadium, and use these as inspiration to discuss engineering, before designing and building models of these famous buildings. In the final session, students use Lego Mindstorms to design a vehicle, programme instructions for orienteering, aiming to travel to the various destinations on a large scale map they’ve created. These sessions incorporate literacy, local history, geography, numeracy, design and technology, information and control technology, robotics, engineering and orienteering.
Student Enrichment Programme:
(6 sessions)
Developing self-esteem: (Key Stage 2) -15 - 20 participants
Local history, literacy, ICT, design technology and citizenship from a Wembley history perspective. Schools will receive all produced work, pre and post analysis of self-esteem, together with educational and social skills development feedback.
Children as Researchers:
(6 sessions)
G&T / school council: (Key stages 2 - 3) - 15 -20 participants
Based on Mary Kellett’s work, ‘How to develop children as researchers’ (2007). Students learn about the principles of ethical research, different research techniques, data capture and analysis; and produce a report to present back to school for a research project they undertake over the six weeks.
Total Football:
(6 sessions)
Re-engagement programme: (Key stages 2 - 3) - 15 -20 participants
Ideal for young people disaffected from mainstream education. Football coaching and classroom based literacy and numeracy sessions, based on football themes.
Life in Sports:
(6 sessions)
Aspirations and career development: (Key Stage 3+) 15 – 20 participants
A programme designed to inspire and support young people who are interested in a career in sports. A look into different sports related careers, the sporting job market, personal work styles, aspiration development, career contingency planning, personal finance management and budgeting, CV workshop and interview workshops.
Challenge Days:
(1 or 2 sessions)
(Key Stage 2) Max 60 participants
Students are given a range of mathematics, literacy and creative challenges based on organising a charity event at Wembley Stadium. Based on Live Aid 1985, children work in groups, learning how to work best as a team to win the coveted challenge day cup. Includes walks around the Stadium.
School based sessions:
(1 or 2 sessions)
(Key Stage 2) Max 60 participants
The Learning Zone brings a football themed day of numeracy, literacy, problem solving and art to schools. Students work in small groups to create a new football team in your local area.
Small Business Game:
(1 sessions)
(Key Stage 3+) 20 participants
An online interactive simulation that gives students the experience of running their own sports shop; controlling all decisions from setting-up the company’s structure to stock control and staffing.
Others:
Fun days, class rewards, end of term class excursions or venue hire available. The venue can be hired for celebrations, presentations, workshops, training or other events. Only available to Brent partners. For corporate bookings, please contact the Stadium’s events management team.
Bespoke programmes: As specified by school or organisation. Contact the centre manager for details.
Session times:
• 9.30am – Noon
• Noon – 2.30pm
• 3pm – 6pm
St. Christopher’s School
2nd July 2012
Dear Raj,
On behalf of all the teachers of St Christopher’s School I would like to thank you very much for the most fantastic day we all had with our children at Wembley Stadium. We were all in total agreement that the day was one of the best school trips we have all ever had.
The trip could not have come at a better time for us, fitting in so perfectly during National Sports Week and our own Olympic Sports Programme. It encompassed so many cross curricular themes. Our lower school Year 1 pupils have been learning about ‘Things around our Local Area’, our Year 4 pupils have focused on ‘Local History’ and along with Year 2 pupils have looked at a variety of Famous and Inspirational People’. The 1948 Olympic Artefacts area reinforced the Year 6 topic of ‘World War II’ and the after effects. The trophy making also brought in particular artwork skills that some year groups have used before. The logo design was a great success, as you can see in the photo attached we have made a great display with them in our hall for everyone to see. It is so nice that every child has one to show. The Tour - well no words can describe how much everyone, (adults as well as the children) enjoyed this. Apart from what they saw the children absolutely loved shouting and hearing their echo around the Stadium.
All of the activities were absolutely perfect and well organised for all age groups and you had all of the resources covered from pens, pencils, paper to worksheets, scissors and even cameras for the adults to use, we didn’t need to bring a thing. I have to say we were all left unsure as to which activity was best, certainly the children couldn’t decide and many of them settled for everything being the best!
You had a great manner with the children, calm and relaxed, though full of enthusiasm. You were flexible and adaptable particularly when it was necessary to re-organise a few things due to unforeseen circumstances.
Raj, I can’t thank you enough for giving our children of St. Christopher’s School such an amazing experience which they will treasure forever. Thank you for all your time you gave to me during the organising of it and we will do our very best to spread the word of ‘The Learning Zone’.
Yours sincerely
Lorraine Kaye
PE Co-ordinator