Free learning resources from arts, cultural and heritage organisations.

Teachers' Notes

Resource created by M&S Archive

This resource uses images and documents from the M&S Archive relating to the Company's origins in 19th century Leeds and the M&S story up to the present day.  

You can also download an M&S in Leeds timeline, which lists key dates and events in the M&S story. 

Curriculum Links 

  • KS1 History: Shops and Shopping – changes on the high street 
  • KS2 History: Local history study 
  • KS3 History: Local history study, Challenges for Britain, Europe and the wider world, 1901 - present. 
  • KS2&3 Maths: Currency, understanding decimalisation 
  • KS3&4 Art & Design: Graphic design, packaging design. 

Learning Objectives 

  • Knowledge of Michael Marks’ story and how M&S began in Leeds 
  • Understanding of how a large business began in a very small way and continued to survive and succeed 
  • Skills of researching and gathering evidence using primary sources and developing business and enterprise skills.  

Discussion Ideas 

KS2-4 

  • The Marks’ Penny Bazaar was extremely successful. What do you think customers liked about it? 
  • Find out what the word bazaar means. Why do you think Michael Marks used the word 'bazaar' for his market stall? 
  • What does innovation mean? Write a definition and then check it in a dictionary. 
  • Make a list of 10 innovations that have become part of everyday life at home today. 

KS3&4 Cross-Curricular 

  • How do you know you are in an M&S store? Describe who and what you'd expect to see.   
  • Which shops do you think are up to date and modern? Why? 
  • What are the different ways we can shop in the 2020s? Which do you prefer and why? 
  • What do you know about the old money system? 
  • Do you know when decimalisation took place? 

Activity Ideas 

KS1&2 History:  

  • Create a photo timeline for M&S in Leeds. Print out the store photos and ask pupils to put them into chronological order. What clues can they find in the images to help them? 
  • Spot the difference! Use the store images to compare old and new shops looking for what is different and what has stayed the same. 
  • Create a menu for the 1950s M&S cafeteria - remember to use only food and drink that was available at that time! 

KS2&3 Maths 

  • Find out about pre-decimal money - pounds, shillings and pence.  

 

  • Can you find out what Gertie Nicholson’s weekly wages would be worth now? (Use the Inflation calculator | Bank of England) If you had that amount of money every week what would you do with it? How much would you have if you saved it all up for 6 months, or a year? 

KS3 History 

  • Robert Lutyens designed the ‘new’ M&S store architecture, what older styles do you think he was influenced by? How did he adapt these styles to create a modern design? 

KS3 Art and Design: 

  • Have a look at the M&S Case Study 2 image pack resource to see how archive photos of the Cross Arcade Penny Bazaar have inspired new design. Choose one of the Leeds store images and create a design for M&S Food packaging based on what you can see. 

KS2-4 Business & Enterprise 

  • Work as a team and create a market stall for the next school fair. 
    - Decide what you will sell. Are you going to make or buy this stock? 
    - Create your brand. You’ll need a brand name and logo. 
    - Plan your tasks in a timeline, then share out the tasks according to the different skills and interests of each team member. 
  • Imagine you’re applying for a job as either a Sales Assistant or a Store Manager at M&S. Write a letter of application saying why you'd like the job and why you think you would be good at it. What skills do you think you would need to demonstrate for each of the roles? 
  • Carry out some research with family, friends, teachers and neighbours to find out what M&S means to them. Design your research using 'open' questions beginning with what, how, why or when, rather than questions that will give you a yes or no answer. 
  • Have your own 'Dragon's Den' event in your school, with Innovation as the theme: 
    - in groups think of an innovative retail idea 
    - suggest how it could be produced and design a marketing strategy 
    - pitch your idea to an audience, maybe your class or other classes 
    - get people to vote for their favourite 
    - discuss the pros and cons of the top five ideas