From a former fort to the holiday home of a wealthy Edwardian bachelor seeking a quiet retreat from London, the idyllic location of Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island has intrigued and inspired for centuries.
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.
The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.
A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.
British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.
Suitable Venues
A castle with a dramatic history
Ashby de la Zouch is an outstanding example of a late medieval castle developed by a single family as its principal seat up until the Civil Wars of the 1640s. It is also significant for the unusual amount of evidence that survives for the surrounding landscape in the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Conduit House is part of the monastic waterworks which supplied nearby St Augustine's Abbey.
The remains of this medieval conduit house stand in King’s Park, Canterbury, on a steep west-facing hillside to the east of St Augustine’s Abbey, whose spring water supply it was built to protect.
Specialising in school visits, Great Cressingham offers school children the chance to experience a remarkably detailed recreation of a Victorian School. Wearing period clothing they’ll use slates and dip pens, learn by rote and sing accompanied by a harmonium.
Each year, several special open days offer the general public a chance to enjoy a similar ‘living history’ experience.
Located in Port Sunlight, the historic home of Unilever in the UK, the Unilever archives are amongst the most important collections of business records in the world.
Bethlem Royal Hospital was founded in 1247 and was the first institution in the UK to specialise in the care of the mentally ill. The hospital continues to provide in-patient care as part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, and has been based since 1930 in the outer London suburbs.
Blithfield offers a range of programmes to support education in schools on the themes of water and the environment.
Actviities include Ski & Snowboarding, Science-Geography-Technology Discovery, TeamWork Sports Tours, and Academy Tours for Performing & Expressive Arts.
Great Torrington Heritage Museum and Archive now has a new home, 14, South Street and also the Grade 2* listed property, The Market House, which is just above the Pannier Market.
The British Red Cross runs a museum containing a variety of materials from its beginnings in 1870 to its modern activities. The collections include posters, photographs, badges worn by Society members, medals awarded to Society members, medical equipment and fundraising materials and contain a fascinating portrait of our humanitarian work.
Family home of the renowned architect Sir Herbert Baker
This delightful Charles II house is an extraordinary example of a Kent country home. Owletts and its gardens have many treasures, especially from when it was home to its most famous owner Sir Herbert Baker, whose architectural influences can still be found throughout the house.
Find out the origin of the terms:
Shank´s Pony´
Crickets ‘In the Slips’.
‘Money for old rope’.
See:
Discover one of England's most complete and unusual keeps as you explore every nook and cranny of this 12th century military stronghold, built by Henry II.
Lose yourself in this 800-year-old warren of passageways and secret chambers.
Once a symbol of royal power, this grand residence became home to coastal defences during the Second World War in its life as a radar station.
Brimming with history, the Theatre Royal Bath is one of the oldest and most beautiful theatres in Britain.
Comprising three auditoria, the Main House, Ustinov Studio and 'the egg' theatre for children and young people, a wonderfully varied programme of top quality entertainment is on offer all year round.
Harrogate has been hosting business and corporate events for more than 100 years, starting in The Royal Hall before the main exhibition halls were built. Ever the gracious host, Harrogate is one of the best places in the UK to come to as a business visitor.
Cardiff is indisputably the home of Doctor Who. The series is filmed on location in and around the city as well as at the new BBC Studios in Cardiff Bay. Just next door, the Doctor Who Experience has brought the Doctor home, making Cardiff the perfect choice for a Doctor Who themed break, ideal for fans of any age.
Get the complete Harry Potter Experience at the Studio Tour. Go behind the scenes of the Harry Potter film series, located at the Studios where it all began. Step on to authentic sets and relive the magic through the eyes of the filmmakers who brought the Harry Potter film series to life.
There are 5 large work areas which enable schools to undertake large scale art projects and dance activities.
Discover the history of London and its people.
The Museum of London documents the history of Londonfrom prehistoric to modern times. The museum is located close to the Barbican Centre as part of the striking Barbican complex of buildings created in the 1960s and 1970s as an innovative approach to re-development within a bomb-damaged area of the City of London.
Scotland Street School is a must-see for fans of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and tells the story of education in Scotland from the late 19th century to the late 20th century.
Swansea Grand Theatre has a wide variety of shows and exhibitions for everyone to enjoy.
Britain's largest winter garden set within ancient parkland
Encircled by its protective wall, Dunham Massey is a green oasis nestling between the urban sprawl of Manchester and rural tranquillity of Cheshire. While the Georgian hall and Stamford Military Hospital are closed for conservation, the park and gardens are the ideal place to enjoy the crisp clear days of winter.
The Ultimate Celebrity Experience
Meet Hollywood’s biggest stars at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, located next to the world-famous TCL Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame.
An Educating Experience
Bring your students to Madame Tussauds Las Vegas for an educational and entertaining experience unique to anything else located in the Las Vegas area. With such a rich background, Madame Tussauds Las Vegas provides an educational venue that cannot be recreated in the classroom.
Set within one of Britain’s Largest Remaining Ancient Forests. NEW Tree Top Junior.
Half the species of UK butterflies and moths can be found in our forest in Worcestershire.
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