The national charity is one of the largest providers of school trips in the UK but has seen a 99 per cent drop in visits. In 2020/21, just over 4,000 students visited its heritage sites, down from its normal annual figures of 340,000.
English Heritage cares for more than 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites including prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts, and even a Cold War bunker.
The charity offers schools free self-led trips to its sites as well as expert-led paid-for “discovery visits” to 27 sites. Among the discovery visits are a number of SEND-appropriate trips such as meeting the working donkeys at Carisbrooke Castle on the Isle of Wight and sensory activities at Portchester Castle in Hampshire.
Any school can visit an English Heritage site for free on a self-guided visit. Discovery visits cost £100 for an immersive hour-long session with an expert and including hands-on experiences. Visits must be booked online at least 14 days in advance.
For 2022, the charity has created new and free Teacher’s Kits and downloadable teaching resources.
Kate Mavor, chief executive of English Heritage, said: “I am personally inviting teachers up and down the country to bring their pupils to one of our historic sites and to see for themselves the huge benefits the experience can bring, not just to children’s learning, but also their health and happiness.
“Connecting with a building that has stood for many centuries is a deeply grounding and rewarding experience, bringing history and past generations to life.”
- For details, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/school-visits
- To access the teaching resources, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/learn/teaching-resources/