Oral History Project

Belvedere - The Story of Our School Days

'Belvedere - The Story of Our School Days' is an oral history project which aims to preserve the school's heritage by capturing stories and memories from our alumni and past staff. We want to create a comprehensive and inclusive history of Belvedere and the local area.

The research will be directed by our Librarian, Miss Murphy, and interviews will be conducted by researchers made up of our alumni.

If you decide to participate, you will be invited to a relaxed informal chat which will last between 1 to 2 hours and be audio-recorded. The talk is an opportunity for you to share your memories of Belvedere. It will be very flexible, and you will be free to discuss what you like. The talk will take place in a location you decide. If you prefer, you also have the option to be recorded over the phone.

With your permission, your recorded interview will become part of our Digital Archive where it will be preserved as a permanent resource for use in research, publications, and education. The interviewer may also ask your permission to take your photograph. If you provide consent, then the photograph will also become part of the Digital Archive.

Please note, that we will never use your information without your consent, and if you change your mind afterwards, we can delete your interview.

The interviews will be kept on Belvedere's servers and not shared to the public. By taking part, you are agreeing to allow us to keep a recording of your interview.

Please see below for a list of likely topics you might want to discuss during your interview. Time is precious, so please stick to school-based memories!

If you would like to participate in this exciting project, please email l.murphy@belvedereacademy.net

Interview questions

First things first:

• Your name
• Place of birth
• Please state what years you were a pupil/member of staff at Belvedere
• Tell us about your family and home life at the time

General questions and topics:

• Tell us about the qualities your favourite teachers had
• What were your best subjects and why?
• Can you describe the school as you remember it?
• Who were your friends and what were they like? (Please don’t disclose any information you deem ‘sensitive’ that your friend wouldn’t wish to have repeated)

Is there anything you can remember about any of the following topics:

• Clubs and societies
• Teachers
• Other school staff
• School trips
• School meals
• Sports
• Your ambitions and hopes for the future at the time
• Uniform
• Typical day
• Holidays
• What are your lasting memories/the days that really stick out in your mind
• Exams and schoolwork
• Prizes or awards
• Life after Belvedere
• Anything else you can think of we haven’t covered