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:

The Historical Association

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Inclusion: NASEN

Thought of visiting?

Roman Vindolanda and Roman Army Museum at Hadrian’s Wall

Viriconium, Wroxeter, Shropshire

The London Museum

The Jorvik Viking Centre, York

Winchester Discovery Centre

National Museum, Cardiff

Offa’s Dyke Trail and Chirk Castle

The National Trust

Bannockburn Heritage Centre

The National Trust for Scotland

Youth Hostels Association

Historic Scotland

Clan Donald Visitor Centre, Isle of Skye

Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre

Haus am Checkpoint Charlie, Berlin

Hull and East Riding Museum

Soane Museum, London

Exeter Cathedral Education Centre

Ironbridge Gorge Museums

Royal Armouries Museum

The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich

The Scottish Maritime Museum

The Mary Rose Museum, Portsmouth

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard

East Anglia Railway Museum, Colchester

The National Tramway Museum, Matlock

The Museum of Rugby at Twickenham

Windermere Steamboat Museum, Cumbria

Venues for this Curriculum

The Cathedral is the fourth church to be built on this site. The first one recorded was a Carmelite church built in the early fourteenth century. After the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530’s it fell into disrepair. The second church, known as the Matthew Chapel was built around the mid eighteenth century under the partronage of George Matthew who lived in Thurles at the time.

St. Theresa's Church was built in 1932 in Hamilton City Bermuda. This Catholic church was constructed to replace the St. Edward's Church which was opened way back in 1859. St. Edwards was a small church and was unable to accommodate the growing congregation. In 1915, the priest Father Isaac Comeau purchased a land on Cedar Avenue in Hamilton on which St. Theresa's church was later built.

A delightful Norman church, displaying one of the most outstandingly complete and well preserved sets of medieval wall paintings in England, dating from the 12th and 14th centuries.

William and Mary-style country house, garden and park

Built in 1701 by Thomas Vernon, a lawyer and whig MP for Worcester, Hanbury Hall is a beautiful country house.

A gardener’s world, a picnicker’s paradise

Explore the evolution of the English garden and take a stroll through three centuries of landscape design at Wrest Park.

From dazzling parterres and fragrant borders, to sweeping landscapes and woodland walks – Wrest Park is a real treat for the senses. Explore over 90 acres showcasing French, Dutch, Italian and English styles side by side.

Discover more than just history

Leeds Castle welcomes school visits from all over the world, all year round. As part of our charitable mission we offer special subsidised rates to schools from Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Essex and London. 

The new National Curriculum

An intimate Arts and Crafts style family home and complementary gardens

Discover the cherished family home of Noel Goddard Terry, owner of the famous chocolate-making firm Terry’s of York. The house was designed by architect Walter Brierley in the Arts and Crafts style and is complemented by four acres of gardens, designed by George Dillistone. A hidden gem - only a stone's throw away from York City Centre.

Welcome to the Cathedral Church of Saint Barnabas, the seat of the Bishop of Nottingham and the chief Church for Roman Catholics living in the Diocese of Nottingham.

There's a natural surprise waiting around every corner

For all lovers of nature and the great outdoors, Escot is a unique experience and offers a great

Cistercian abbey, elegant Georgian water garden and medieval deer park

For centuries people have been drawn to this inspiring place.

From humble beginnings the magnificent abbey was established by devout monks seeking a simpler existence. The atmospheric ruins that remain are a window into a way of life which shaped the medieval world.

The Grand Union Canal at Stoke Bruerne is an idyllic picture of passing boats and local wildlife. It’s a relaxing and lovely place for a day out.

There are loads of different things to do – boat trips and walks, bird watching and fun for kids at Rookery farm.

Kellie Castle in Fife dates from as early as the 14th century and has magnificent plaster ceilings, painted panelling and fine furniture designed by Sir Robert Lorimer.

There are excellent facilities for school groups, including a fully equipped education room, adjacent to the walled garden.

The 'leaning tower' and walls of this large late medieval church survived bombing during the Second World War. The graveyard is now a public garden.

Bristol’s Temple Church is so called because the original church was built by the Knights Templar, perhaps the most famous of the medieval military orders.

Spectacular walks, secluded beaches and exceptional views

A spectacular coastline, combined with a lively working Cornish port, lends this area its unique character and charm. 

There's a network of footpaths to discover, making the area great walking country, with the South West Coast Path offering sweeping views and a few hilly challenges.

Middleton Hall is a "unique" Grade II-listed country house in Staffordshire. The hall shows evidence of several phases of English domestic architecture from the late thirteenth to the early nineteenth century. There is a fine Great Hall that is of Tudor origin, which makes a classic setting for weddings, for performances and for parties.

12th-century Welsh castle, historic house and 18th-century landscape park, enclosing a medieval deer park

A magical land of power and influence for more than 2,000 years, Dinefwr Park and Castle is an iconic place in the history of Wales. Two forts are evidence of a dominant Roman presence. The powerful Lord Rhys held court at Dinefwr and influenced decisions in Wales.

The visionaries, George and Cecil Rice designed the superb 18th-century landscape that you see today.

Glorious gardens overlooking the River Thames.

Set high above the Thames with far-reaching views, Cliveden’s impressive gardens and majestic woodlands capture the grandeur of a bygone age.

Truly a hidden gem

One of the most elegant country houses in East Anglia, the Hall is a place of surprises and delights, a mixture of opulence and homeliness where each room has something to feed the imagination. From the stained glass windows in the great hall to the nodding mandarins in the chinese bedroom; from Queen Mary's teapot in the dining room to the copper pans in the kitchen. Story boxes for the childr

The North's Premier Maritime Attraction

Hartlepool's Maritime Experience, (formerly known as Hartlepool Historic Quay) is a superb re-creation of an 18th century seaport and a fantastic place to visit for families, groups and schools - in fact everybody. It brings to life the time of Nelson, Napoleon and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Late 15th-century stone house

Little Clarendon was built in the late 15th century for a family of some local distinction, but its origins and early history remain mysterious.

The natural world is incredible!  And Portsmouth is a very special place for wildlife in Britain. It has many different habitats in a very small area, and at Portsmouth Natural History Museum you can explore them all.

Over 260 animal species in over 160 acres of stunning gardens and parkland. Giraffe Walkway, Lemur Walk-through exhibit, Train, Adventure Playground, Picnic Areas, Children's Farmyard, Brass Rubbing, Tropical House, Reptile House, Bat House and Insect House.

Ancient common on the Greensand Ridge where time comes home to sleep

Limpsfield Common was used by commoners for grazing their animals and collecting stone and firewood. Now, with its extensive network of footpaths and bridleways through patches of open heathland and large areas of woodland, the Common is a perfect place to enjoy the countryside, whether walking, cycling or horseriding. There’s an old Roman road to saunter along too.

A romantic house and gallery set in beautiful riverside gardens

Ancient trees, bubbling brooks and rolling lawns frame this lovely old house. Crafted from a medieval priory, it is full of surprises, with art that intrigues and delights. Come back throughout the year to see different exhibitions in the gallery and the latest installations by our artists in residence.

Elegant country house with highly distinctive gardens

This elegant country manor and tranquil garden sit so harmoniously within the landscape that one cannot exist without the other.

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