The imposing ruins of Peveril Castle stand high above the pretty village of Castleton in the heart of Derbyshire’s Peak District. Mentioned in the Domesday survey, Peveril Castle is one of England’s earliest Norman fortresses. The keep was built by Henry II in 1176.
History
History
History tells stories about people, places and things to help explain to young people of any age why the world is as it is as they grow up and begin to question it.
Schools will choose different periods and settings and topics to cove during different Key Stages, but all of them are pretty well guaranteed to be rooted in actual places that can be visited, explored and enjoyed.
It has been a curious fact that for many years primary classes have studied the Roman, Anglo-Saxon and medieval periods, while secondary school syllabuses have been more engaged in post-medieval periods. For a while secondary courses involved a great deal of ‘topic work’. While this discipline still exists, the recent examination syllabuses have returned to an emphasis on historical periods and links.
But all periods and topics provide fantastic opportunities for school visits. We are so lucky that so many general and specialist museums and visitor centres exist in the UK. The problem is not a shortage of possibilities but how one sifts through the available opportunities to make choices.
The Historical Association website carries information about course, conferences, study tours, and the Association has published ‘The Historian’ magazine for many years. Handsam is also happy to help, please contact us on 03332 070737 or email info@schooltripsadvisor.org.uk.
Most venues will have teaching materials and activities geared to students’ different ages and aptitudes whether at primary or secondary level. All of them will set out to develop students’ ability to understand, analyse and evaluate key features and characteristics of historical periods and events studied.
Some venues will be easy to identify because they fit neatly with the period and topic being studied but others may offer new possibilities, not least to the teachers themselves. Teachers need and deserve their own stimulation.
Over the next four years there will be an upsurge in visits to the First World War battlefields. Because of this there will be an increase in companies offering visits and requirement for battlefield guides, especially in northern France and Belgium. There are bound to be discrepancies in guides’ knowledge and experience. Close research into the credentials of the company you are contracting with, and the company’s guarantees about guides, will ensure that your group will not be disappointed.
Main organisations:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Inclusion: NASEN
Thought of visiting?
Roman Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum at Hadrian’s Wall
Viriconium, Wroxeter, Shropshire
The Jorvik Viking Centre, York
Offa’s Dyke Trail and Chirk Castle
The National Trust for Scotland
Clan Donald Visitor Centre, Isle of Skye
Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre
Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin
Exeter Cathedral Education Centre
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich
The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth
East Anglia Railway Museum, Colchester
The National Tramway Museum, Matlock
Venues for this Curriculum
A moated enclosure, probably the site of a manor owned by the Bishops of Llandaff during the 13th and 14th centuries. The site is composed of a large level area, roughly 39 metres by 45 metres, wurrounded by a wide moat, making the total size of the site an impressive 72 metres by 76 metres.
With a station motto of ‘The Strongest Link’, Biggin Hill was an important sector or 'controlling airfield' during and after the Battle of Britain. First established during the First World War as a radio and instrument research station and a fighter airfield, the second conflict saw it upgraded to accommodate modern fighter aircraft.
World-famous Stone Circle
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.
One of the most important prehistoric archaeological collections in Britain, housed in the Stables Gallery, and including many artefacts from the World Heritage Site (WHS) monuments. The admission fee includes access to both the Stables and Barn Galleries. The Barn Gallery (belonging to the National Trust) tells the story of the WHS, its monuments, and the people associated with it.
The museum collection on display reveals an island community changing over the years to both external and internal pressures. Alderney has a fascinating history starting with extensive Stone, Bronze and Iron Age activity, with object evidence of historically important Roman activity at Longy.
The story of Aldershot Military Town and the civil towns of Aldershot, Farnborough and Cove.
Housed in the only surviving brick-built barrack blocks left in Aldershot, the museum tells the story of daily life for both soldier and civilian since 1854.
Activities for Schools
Airborne Assault is the Regimental Museum of The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces and tells the stories of the soldiers who go to war from the air.
Although the Museum touches on other aspects of the National Curriculum the main core subject covered is History. Details are set out below as to how a visit to the Museum may benefit students in the various key stages of History.
The Museum of the Adjutant General's Corps is situated in the Guard House of Peninsula Barracks in Winchester and is open on Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entrance is free.
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.
Welcome to the School of Art Gallery and Museum at Aberystwyth University. In addition to up-to-date news on the collections and exhibition programme, this site provides an introduction to our Art and Crafts Collection, outlining its development and the individuals whose personal enthusiasms have shaped the Collection since 1872.
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..
One of the finest accessible examples of a Neolithic chambered tomb, with its multiple burial chambers open to view. Stoney Littleton is a chambered long barrow built during the Neolithic period (roughly 4000– 2500 BC).
Although this is the third largest collection of prehistoric standing stones in England, the three circles and three-stone 'cove' of Stanton Drew are surprisingly little-known. Recent surveys have revealed that they were only part of a much more elaborate ritual site.
The transplanted stump of a medieval stone cross, once a meeting place for butter-sellers.
Erected to commemorate the heroism of a Royalist commander and his Cornish pikemen at the nearby Battle of Lansdown, 1643.
Abergavenny Museum and Castle is an ideal venue for an educational visit. We welcome schools who wish to bring pupils for a general visit to look at the castle and/or the museum displays. Entry is free. We do ask that you let us know when you are intending to visit, so we can let you know of any events that may affect your visit.
Pembrokeshire's County Museum is located in a traditional Victorian country house near Haverfordwest, surrounded by 60 acres of park and woodland and is completed by an award-winning eco-centre.
Period rooms, railway displays, farming exhibition, costume, stable/rural crafts, art exhibitions, World War II homefront exhibition. Picnic and play areas, shop and tearoom.
Step back in time and wander through the enchanting streets, shops and houses and experience life as a Victorian. On the ground floor visit Stephen Harding Gate, the 19th century equivalent of a modern high street for some old fashioned retail therapy. In the back streets, see the home of the window washer woman or pop into the Sunday-School.
Cannon Hall Museum houses a grand collection of artworks including paintings, English furniture, Arts and Crafts ceramics and modern glassware.
The Hall opened as a museum in 1957 and continues to display the exhibits to the public to this day. Recent funding from the Heritage Lottery fund helped refurbish the displays and update them for the modern age.
The Light Dragoons has one Regimental Museum. 'A Soldier's Life', The Light Dragoons (The 15th/19th King's Royal Hussars) Museum, is at Discovery Museum, Newcastle upon Tyne.
The secret Tollbridge between England and Wales
Whitney Bridge (a working Toll Bridge) is Grade II listed ancient structure with a social and historical interest. The original toll bridge was enabled in 1774 as a more convenient crossing to the River Wye, other than by ferry.
Banking for Victory: A country house at War - Upton is transformed into the Country House Bank
In 1939 the owners of Upton House – the Bearsteds – moved out and their family-owned bank moved in. Driven by the need to protect bank staff and assets from the London air raids, M. Samuel & Co., moved in lock, stock and barrel for the duration of the Second World War.
Snowshill Manor is a Cotswold manor house packed with extraordinary treasures collected over a life time by Charles Wade
Inside these rooms you can discover this eclectic collection that he restored and displayed. We have maintained the atmospheric settings he created with low lighting and few labels. From tiny toys to Samurai armour, musical instruments to fine clocks, thousands of objects are laid out for you to see just as Mr Wade intended.
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