What is it?
Historic re-enactments are both educational and entertaining. Typically the re-enactments take the form of dressing up in a style from the past in order to focus on a particular theme or time period. These can take the form of participation events such as mock trials, industrial workplaces or Victorian schoolroom sessions through to observations of major rehearsed re-enactments such as battles. Battle re-enactments often take the form of combat demonstrations, which are generally performed by a company to members of the public and are loosely based around actual events with costumes, armour and weapons from the period in use.
What does it involve?
The level of involvement differs depending on whether you would like to get your pupils involved in the re-enactment or not. If you are to be involved in the re-enactment then you will be brief by a member of the re-enactment team on what is expected of the pupils prior to the event. Pupils will often dress in appropriate clothing for the time period they are re-enacting and will learn historical facts as the re-enactment takes place. If you are watching a re-enactment you will simply sit and observe the show whilst learning about the specific topic, often being narrated by members of the performing troupe.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
Watching re-enactments will help students to learn about a given time period. Having a visual of a specific topic is far better than simply reading about it. Better still actually involving students in the re-enactment will help all pupils recall facts especially helping kinaesthetic learners. There is also a lot of fun to be had in the dressing up!
What equipment do we need?
As with most activities where you visit an establishment to try it, the venue should provide the majority of the equipment you'll need to participate. You should always check beforehand though, as some places may ask you come dressed appropriately for the specific activity.
Who is it suitable for?
Watching an historic re-enactment is a suitable activity for children of all ages. If the pupils are to be partaking in the re-enactment then activity is only suitable for children in key stage 2 and upwards.
Costs?
The cost of a re-enactment varies depending on the amount of pupils you wish to take and whether you will be watching or partaking in the activity. The length of the re-enactment session will also have an impact on cost. Some venue such as castles and museums hold regular re-enactments so it may be worth looking at tying in your trip with a visit to an educational venue. Please research various providers in your area to find the best value offering.
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Simply watching an historic re-enactment poses little to no risk however some students may be sensitive to particular realistic recreations of battle scenes. If you are partaking in a re-enactment it is important to listen to any safety briefings given by the organisation. As with any school trip it is important you take any student specific medication with you if the re-enactment takes place off the premises.
How do we include?
Many venues now cater for pupils with physical disabilities. Please consult specific venues in your area to find out more about what they are set up for.
Doing it abroad?
There is a very big historical re-enactment scene in the united states however they often focus on events relevant to American history so may not be relevant to the Curriculum.
Main website:
For more information on Historic re-enactments please click here.
It is a good idea to research venues in your area before the trip.
Anglia Tours Ltd specialises in high quality fully guided tours to a range of locations in the UK and across Europe, particularly battlefields and historic sites. Each tour is led by a highly experienced guide, selected not only for their expertise but also their ability to engage with audiences and to share their enthusiasm for the sites we visit.
ABTA & ATOL bonded
Designed by Scottish architect William Adam in 1732, Haddo House near Aberdeen is a magnificent example of an historic Scottish stately home.
School visits are available by prior arrangement and can be tailored to suit your requirements.
Halsbury Travel will work with you to create a tailor made trip that will inspire your pupils and bring your subject to life.
Established in 1986, Halsbury Travel is a friendly, family-run school tour operator. With several former teachers in our midst, we understand from first-hand experience the pressures on teachers when organising school trips.
With a wealth of specialist experience, our friendly team has been helping school groups to enjoy sports, ski, educational and special interest trips since 1992 under our former STI School Travel, Sports Travel and STI Skiwise brands.
Kirriemuir Camera Obscura - one of only three remaining in Scotland - is housed in a purpose-designed turret room within the cricket pavilion on Kirriemuir Hill.
Both the camera obscura and the cricket pavilion were donated in 1930 by the author J M Barrie (1868-1937), a native of Kirriemuir.
Holts Tours is the leading battlefield and history tours company.
The finest Tudor town house of its period in Britain, with furnished rooms and garden. Education room available for use. Costume-led faciliated visits available based on Numeracy, History the Tudors and Science, Technology, Mathematics. Self-led Tudor activity pack. Tudor Treasure Chest handling collection.
Wyvern Schooltours was founded by teachers in 1979. We specialise in humanities and arts tours, with particular focus on MFL, history tours and day trips to a diverse and extensive selection of European destinations. We also have a specialist set of tours for Primary Schools.
Perched high above the Needles at the extreme tip of the Island, with unrivalled views of the Solent and unspoilt countryside, is the Needles Old Battery a Victorian fort built in 1862 and used throughout both World Wars.
We are the world’s leading charity in promoting the works, life and times of William Shakespeare.
Professional bespoke guided walks and tours of historic gardens and places of interest in Warwick, Kenilworth, Leamington Spa. Stratford Upon Avon and the Cotswolds.
Scotland's largest & oldest keep. There's a dungeon alongside artwork by Raeburn & Van Dyck. School visits are available by arrangement, and focus on Mary, Queen of Scots and the 1st Earl of Mar. There is an education/teachers and restricted access pack available. The approximate length of a school visit is 2 hours.
This picturesque castle set in Calshot, a coastal village in Southampton, Hampshire, England. This beautiful village provides a perfect relaxing family day out by the coast.
This artillery fort, built by Henry VIII to defend the sea passage to Southampton, was recently used as a Navy and RAF base.
The Inniskillings Museum is situated in the 15th Century Keep and 18th century Military outbuildings of Enniskillen Castle. The Museum tells the story of the town of Enniskillen's two regiments - the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
Discover the history of lead mining in the Peak District and how it has shaped the landscape since Roman times. Interactive exhibits and climbing tunnels for the kids. Lots of relics to see, plus hundreds of rock and mineral specimens.
See the steam trains from the golden age of the Great Western Railway in the original engine shed, with a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge railway and a typical country branch line.
Strabane District Council established its Museum service in 1997. The core of the councils museum collection is formed by "The Dunbar Collection". This is a collection which encompasses several collection areas such as photography, Victoriana, Militaria, fine arts and folklife.
Perhaps England's most impressive piece of 18th century defensive architecture, Fort Cumberland was reconstructed in pentagonal form by the Duke of Richmond between 1785 and 1810, and designed to protect Langstone Harbour.
Access is by pre-booked guided tour only.
Southsea beach is nearby.
Unstaffed open site November to March, no booking required. Self-led dressing up activity.
Climb aboard locomotives, be a signalman and walk underneath 80 tons of metal!
Follow the incredible story of the GWR through lots of imaginative displays and plenty of hands-on exhibits. Build a bridge and shunt wagons. Have a go at putting a locomotive together. Take a ride on our train-driving simulator.
Experience RE out of the classroom
Chelmsford Cathedral is a beautiful house of prayer and a unique educational resource. The light, joyous and colourful atmosphere together with the varied, contemporary works-of-art, enable it to be explored in many ways.
What do we offer schools?
Step into royal domesticity where the royal family lived as the 'simplest country gentlefolks'.
Take advantage of free entry for under-16s and free preliminary tickets to prepare for your visit.
Kew Palace, the Royal Kitchens and Queen Charlotte's Cottage... some of the must see sites at Kew.
A world-famous stone circle and on-site museum at the heart of a prehistoric landscape.
With its huge circular bank and ditch and inner circle of great standing stones, covering an area of over 28 acres, Avebury forms one of the most impressive prehistoric sites in Britain.
Has long provided the opportunity to become familiar with the country life of yesteryear. Its Historic Working Farm is a wonderful visitor attraction with daily activities and special events. You will see traditional 19th century farm life unfold daily, while the land around is worked by heavy horses.
The Roman Baths is a favourite for children and their teachers to find out about the Romans and Roman Britain, and children can work with original Roman material..
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.