When English Heritage took over the management of
Conisbrough in 2008, it was under the assurance that education would
continue to be a mainstay of our role.
During the past four years we have seen that commitment pay
dividends. The English Heritage
Education Team and the site staff have worked hard to update our education
visits. As a result, three exciting new Discovery Visits have now been
developed that will help pupils of all ages to better understand life at a
medieval castle. New hands-on
objects and resources have been provided to assist young imaginations to
mentally re-construct a living breathing castle populated by people of high
status, along with those who served them.
During each Discovery Visit, pupils are encouraged to
investigate for themselves life at a medieval castle.
From the first wooden motte and bailey through to the eventual
collapse and ruination of the once great stone castle, young minds are taken
on a sometimes challenging journey finding clues, asking questions and
seeking a better understanding of the past.
We also believe that learning should be fun, we try our
very best to make sure that every pupil who visits
Conisbrough Castle has the very best experience possible;
which is why so many of them return with their parents and grandparents,
keen to share their newly acquired knowledge and experience with others.
Education Visits at Conisbrough Castle
Education has always been an important part of the
work that we do here at Conisbrough
Castle. Education visits account for
a large proportion of our total visitor figures.
We also find that a substantial
proportion of our visitors during in the school holidays come to the
castle thanks to the recommendation or insistence of a young person who
has been here on a school visit.
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Many of the education groups who visit Conisbrough Castle
each year take advantage of one of our Discovery Visits. These are led
by one of our experienced team members who present the castle in a way that
ensures that both pupils and teachers achieve the maximum benefit from their
experience. Discovery Visits at Conisbrough Castle are currently
charged at £90 per group of up to 35 heads.
To find out more about English Heritage Discovery Visits,
please
Click Here to visit the English Heritage Education website.
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If you do not require a Discovery Visit, as with all
English Heritage properties, Conisbrough Castle can offer free admission to
teacher led education groups. However this must be as part of a
pre-booked visit.
(Click
Here for information about English Heritage free education
visits).
Download the English Heritage "Free Education Visits" booking form.
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To find out more about Discovery Visits or to
book a visit at Conisbrough Castle please email or contact
Conisbrough Castle on 01709 863329. There will be someone to take
your call on Mondays and Fridays during the Winter, or leave a
message and we will get back to you ASAP. Alternatively please call
in, we are open most weekends.
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Conisbrough Castle Visitor Centre also has a well stocked
shop. We offer a range of "pocket money" items and souvenirs and our
experienced staff are always on hand to ensure a stress free school
shopping experience.
Alternatively please ask about our range of pre-orderable
goodie bags.
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**Please Note... Conisbrough Castle is available
for Education Visits-
December-February 2012- Closed
March 2012 - Mondays and Fridays only
April- October 2012 - 7 days
November 2012 - Mondays and Fridays only
Spectacular 12th-century cylindrical keep - the only
example of its kind in England and a fine piece of medieval
architecture.
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Discovering Conisbrough Castle – Keep Tour:
Key Stage 1
Key Stage: 1, History
Through this workshop Key Stage 1 pupils will
learn to ask questions, look for clues and
compare Conisbrough Castle to buildings they are
familiar with. By encouraging the use of
observation and questioning skills, offering the
chance to handle replica historical objects and
providing opportunities to use their
imaginations, the children will leave with a
clearer impression of what life was like for the
people who lived at Conisbrough Castle in the
past.
When: By arrangement
Duration:1 hour
Click Here for a session outline
-
Discovering
Conisbrough
Castle
– Keep Tour: Key Stage 2
Key Stage: 2, History
This interactive tour aims to start to equip
children with the investigative and questioning
skills that will enable them to begin to
interpret the evidence around them. The
activities provide opportunities to learn about
life in the castle for different groups within
the medieval social structure, to discuss the
way that the site has changed over time and also
to identify similarities between the buildings,
lifestyle and landscape of then and now.
When: By arrangement
Duration: 1 hour
Click Here for a session outline
-
Discovering Conisbrough
Castle
– Keep Tour: Key Stage 3
Key Stage: 3, History
Students participating in this workshop will
be encouraged to develop observational and
interpretation skills by looking at Conisbrough
Castle as a series of clues to interpret to
understand castle life for different groups in
medieval society. The children will use the
physical remains of the castle, replica objects
and artists’ illustrations to learn how to use
an historic site as a source of evidence,
enabling them to begin to explore the role and
impact of castles in the medieval period.
When: By arrangement
Duration: 1 hour
Click Here for a session outline
-
Discovering
Conisbrough
Castle
– Bailey Tour: Key Stage 3
Key Stage: 3, History
This hands-on, interactive workshop uses the
castle as a piece of evidence to decode and
interpret, to learn about medieval castle life.
Students will be shown how to identify specific
features of medieval castle architecture among
the remains and will then have the opportunity
to put these investigate skills and knowledge to
the test by identifying further examples of
these features themselves. After the activities
the children will be able to discuss elements of
medieval castle life using appropriate
vocabulary and will be equipped with skills to
enable them to begin to ‘read’ other historic
sites.
When: By arrangement
Duration: 1 hour
Click Here for a session outline
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