Pupils who have researched artefacts which form part of a council's collection will be rewarded with a certificate as part of a national scheme to explore the local area through objects from the past.

The national project, called People and Place, is being run in conjunction with the British Museum. It focuses on the two great civilisations of China and Rome, and it is the Roman element which is being explored in Newark and Sherwood.

Newark and Sherwood District Council's museums service has been chosen as a partner because of the potential for impact that comes from its collections, its ambitious development plans and enthusiasm for engaging young people, and is working closely with museums in Carlisle, Tyne and Wear, Brighton, Bristol and Colchester, which are also taking part.

The project is being funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which has made £320,000 available for six museums across the country to participate in the project. 

Artefacts from the council's collections have been chosen and researched by about 25 young people from the Magnus Church of England and Orchard schools in Newark. These will form part of an exhibition to be held at Millgate Museum early next year featuring items loaned from the British Museum's Roman collection. The pupils' research will also feature on the People and Place and district council's websites.

The pupils have visited the British Museum and The Collection in Lincoln. As part of their project they will lead tours of the Resource Centre for invited guests, exploring the objects and the significance of the museum's collections.

The council's collections and learning manager, Glyn Hughes, said: “This really is a coup for Newark and Sherwood to be included in this, especially when you consider the size of the other museum services, which are mostly based in large cities and conurbations.

“Newark and Sherwood is at the heart of a region where discoveries of new archaeological finds are significant. You only have to look at the Newark Torc, the Roman villa at Southwell and the number of 'treasure' finds to see this.

“It's exciting to be getting some artefacts loaned to us by the British Museum and we have aspirations to develop new displays and programmes to engage young people and other diverse audiences around this material.”

The presentations to pupils from the Magnus Church of England School will be made at the Resource Centre on Brunel Drive, Newark, at 11am on July 16 by the Chairman of Newark and Sherwood District Council, Cllr Tom Bickley.