Oakham Castle

Our sessions take place in the very places that history happened. Children get to experience the Great Hall where the Lords and Ladies of Oakham manor would have lived and worked and the Courtroom that hosted the actual trials that children will learn about. You don't get much closer to the history than actually standing in the footprints of these historical characters as you roleplay key moments from their lives whether that be enjoying a medieval banquet or sentencing a criminal to transportation or worse.

Saxons

Our Anglo Saxon day takes children on a journey of discovery with active, multisensory activities Train to be in a Saxon Army, every pupil furnished with a sword and shield.
Play an active tag game while learning about the many challenges that faced Anglo Saxon villagers.
Pupils have to figure out the best place to settle in order to thrive and avoid attack in our geography linked activity.
They can make a Saxon bead necklace to take back to school while learning about art and culture.
An exploration of law and order is an option with pupils taking part in a Trial by Oath and roleplaying the terrors of Trial by Ordeal (don't worry no one actually gets hurt!).
We can include a performance of the gripping tale of Beowolf - a story of the Viking hero loved by the Anglo Saxons. Poetry writing activity available as post-visit activity or as part of your day. 'Tremendous fun and packed with learning' - KS2 teacher

Medieval

In the workshop Introduction the Castle Life children learn about both the early medieval period and the later period, as they are introduced to both the Anglo Saxons and the Normans. Activities include a medieval banquet and some period dancing. This is a half day workshop which could be combined with a half day session at Rutland County Museum.

Citizenship

Curriculum topics available: Crime and punishment, Laws and the justice system, Politics and parliament, Monarchy, Democracy.

Our Crime and Pu.nishment workshop day is packed with immersive activities encourage us to question - Why did people in the past have break laws? Were the laws or the punishments fair? Have we reached a fair system and now? What are our responsibilities? We end with a debate in our court, the topic can be of your choosing to tie in with your aims. Meet a Victorian prison officer, be judge and jury for a variety of real cases, roleplay Tudor crimes and court cases. For KS3/4 students 'The Trouble with Kings' (a whole or half-day of activities) charts the development of democracy through fun roleplay and learning focussing on protest and rebellion throughout the centuries and the reason how it. Packed with curriculum-linked work that can be tailored to your particular scheme or exam board.

EYFS and KS1 - Castles, Ladies, Knights and Peasants
EYFS and KS1 - Introduction to Castle Life
KS2/KS3/KS4 - Crime and Punishment Through Time
KS2/KS3/KS4 - Lessons in the Witchcraft and Wizardry
KS2/KS3/KS4 - Battle of Hastings

KS2/3/4 - Crime and Punishment
KS2/3/4 - Castles and Science
KS2/3/4 - Settlements
KS2/3/4 - Lessons in Witchcraft and Wizardry
KS2/3/4 - The Battle of Hastings
KS2/3/4 - The Trouble with Kings
We also provide outreach in a variety of forms and covering a wide range of subjects

We can accommodate up to 60 children at any one time.

We have a secondary room adjoining the Great Hall that could be set up as a classroom should a group require it.

All of our core team members are trained first aiders.

We have ramp access throughout the castle as well as disabled toilet facilities and handling opportunities for visually impaired visitors.

We have Team members with a wealth of experience working with Special educational needs groups. We can create bespoke sessions to suit the needs and abilities of any participants.

All our Sessions have been rated overall as 100% Excellent.

"We were all so impressed with the amount of resources available to the children. The pitch of the day was perfect, it provided a challenge to the more able children but was accessible to everyone."
EYFS Teacher - Castle Session - St. Gilberts CofE Primary School - 2017

"An Excellent Experience. The students and teachers that accompanied have been raving about it"
Yr7 Teacher - Battle of Hastings - Catmose College - 2017

Jane was Fantastic and came to visit The Shires, Oakham to meet our students and staff and tailor made a fantastic and enjoyable educational visit. The Session gave our students lots of choice of different activities and the freedom to choose what they wanted
to look at and take part in."
Teacher - Discover Oakham Castle - The Shires, Special Educational School - 2017