Puzzle Locker was created in response to conversations with primary teachers about two growing challenges. First, many pupils, particularly following the disruption caused by the pandemic, had fewer opportunities to develop communication, collaboration and problem-solving skills through meaningful classroom activities. Second, teachers wanted engaging ways to bring history to life without compromising curriculum depth or replacing good teaching with technology.
As a qualified teacher, I had seen how gamification and immersive experiences could increase motivation, but many immersive technologies encouraged pupils to learn individually. We wanted to explore a different approach: could technology instead bring an entire class together around a shared learning experience?
Puzzle Locker was developed to combine historical enquiry, collaborative problem-solving and Augmented Reality (AR) within a single curriculum-aligned experience. Rather than replacing classroom discussion, it encourages pupils to investigate evidence, justify ideas and solve puzzles together. Technology supports these interactions, but the learning comes from the conversations, reasoning and teamwork it enables.
Over three years, the innovation has been refined through continuous feedback from teachers and pupils, ensuring that every significant design decision has improved both educational value and accessibility.
Puzzle Locker transforms a school hall into an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) learning environment for an entire KS2 class. Pupils work in mixed-ability teams of three using shared iPads and interactive puzzle mats, rotating structured roles so that every child contributes throughout the workshop.
Each experience is built around a historical enquiry question linked to the curriculum. Teams investigate virtual artefacts, solve topic-themed puzzles and answer curriculum questions while progressing through increasingly challenging levels. Success depends on communication, reasoning and collaboration rather than speed or individual ability.
The presenter facilitates discussion, asks questions and encourages pupils to explain their thinking, helping connect each activity back to the curriculum. Narrated instructions, optional scaffolding and bonus challenges make the experience accessible to learners with different needs while providing stretch for higher-attaining pupils.
Every topic also includes teacher preparation materials and follow-up classroom activities, extending learning beyond the experience itself.
Puzzle Locker has grown from an early classroom concept into a nationally delivered educational programme. Following more than three years of development and testing, it officially launched across the UK in 2026.
To date, more than 30 schools and over 2,500 pupils have participated in workshops covering seven curriculum-linked topics. Adoption has been driven primarily through teacher recommendations, repeat bookings and positive reviews, with schools consistently highlighting high levels of pupil engagement, collaboration and organisation.
The innovation has been designed to scale without changing its educational model. New curriculum topics are developed using the same learning framework, while future growth will be supported by training additional presenters and developing licensing partnerships. Our goal over the next three years is to expand nationally, broaden curriculum coverage and make collaborative AR learning accessible to many more schools.
Puzzle Locker has evolved continuously through iterative design informed by pupil observation and teacher feedback. The earliest prototype demonstrated strong engagement but also highlighted opportunities to improve collaboration, accessibility and learning outcomes.
Over successive development phases, we introduced rotating team roles to ensure equal participation, narration to support less confident readers, bonus rounds to provide additional challenge and retrieval activities to reinforce curriculum knowledge. Multiple-choice recap questions were added to consolidate learning, while interactive floor mats transformed the logistics of whole-class delivery.
Many refinements were intentionally small but educationally significant. Puzzle instructions became clearer, scaffolding was improved, pacing was adjusted and accessibility features were expanded so that pupils of different abilities could contribute successfully. Rather than viewing development as complete, Puzzle Locker continues to evolve through evidence gathered in real school settings.
Puzzle Locker is currently available as a presenter-led workshop for UK primary schools. Schools choose curriculum-linked topics and we provide all equipment, delivery and classroom resources. The platform is not yet available as a standalone product, but schools can contact us directly to discuss booking a workshop or future partnership opportunities.
