Newcastle Castle

School Trips

Why book Newcastle Castle for School Trips and Educational Visits?

A visit to Newcastle Castle will help pupils develop a deeper understanding of history and will put what you teach about in the classroom into context.

We provide a range of hands on activities, talks, and the opportunity for bespoke workshops to bring history to life.

Whatever their age, your group will find an amazing learning experience at Newcastle Castle.

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Free Places for Teachers
Resource Packs
LOtC Quality Badge
AALA Licence

What activities are available during group visits?

We cater for Primary, Secondary, and Colleges and Universities.

For Primary and Secondary schools we offer a whole host of workshops that cover topics from the Black Death to Fairy Tales, which can all be tailored to suit your curriculum and teaching. All these workshops include hands on learning activities, and the opportunity for a tour around the Castle Keep.

Typically, schools book a full day or a half day. A full day visit would usually consist of a guided tour of the Castle site and the Keep for half a day, and then one of our range of workshops for the other half a day. Workshops usually take place indoors in the Harbottle Suite in the Black Gate. On a full day visit you would normally have a half hour lunch break in between each session, also in the Harbottle Suite.
A half day visit can either be a guided tour or a workshop, but if you’re only visiting for half a day we would usually deliver the workshop in the Castle Keep so that you don’t miss out!

For Colleges and Universities we offer more focused sessions for particular courses and topics. We can also include an introductory tour or self led tour.

Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?

Medieval

Curriculum topics available: Norman Conquest, Medieval Society and Feudalism, Religion and Crusades, Magna Carta and Parliament, Black Death and Medicine, Peasants Revolt, Castles.

Built in 1080, Newcastle Castle was defensive fortification throughout medieval times. Our workshops cover the various events that occurred during these times, delivered in the heart of where these events took place.

What size groups do you cater for?

Maximum in a day is 60 pupils.

Is there first aid on site?

Most of our staff are first aid trained.

Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?

The Castle Keep is a difficult building from an access point of view, as it has a large number of steep stairs. We can still accommodate children with mobility difficulties and can arrange for an extra volunteer to deliver a range of activities on the ground floor of the Keep (which is accessible from ground level) if a child is unable to manage the stairs at all.

The workshops are delivered in the Harbottle Suite in the Black Gate, which is accessible by lift. This is also the indoor lunch space, and has an accessible toilet.

Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

At Newcastle Castle we are committed to supporting all learners. Because we understand there is no one size fits all solution when providing support, we would ask you to let us know about any special needs for anyone in your group, and we can discuss with you how best to support them.

Who are Newcastle Castle?

Steeped in history, this imposing Norman fortress is a rugged reminder of northern England’s turbulent past. Newcastle Castle is where the story of Newcastle began and the reason the city got its name.