Education Programmes
Salisbury Cathedral Education Centre caters for groups of all ages, offering educational programmes which cover an extensive range of interests and subject areas.
Below are the educational programmes currently on offer:
- Early Years Foundation Stage
- Key Stage 1
- Key Stage 2
- Key Stage 3
- Key Stage 4
- Post 16
- Adult Education
- Holiday Activities
- Non-school groups
- Inset training /CPD
- Outreach - we come to you
- Non UK-based schools
Early Years Foundation Stage
A visit to the Cathedral may wish to focus on Knowledge and Understanding of the World perhaps finding out and identifying features of the places children live or beginning to learn about their own cultures and beliefs as well of those of other people. Aspects of Personal, Social and Emotional Development, Communication, Language and Literacy and Creative Development may also be incorporated. Please contact the Education Centre to discuss your specific requirements.
Key Stage 1
Art activities
Hands-on activity
Choose one of the traditional Cathedral arts and crafts of: stone rubbings, stained ‘glass’, bookmaking, clay tiles, illuminated letters.
Or let the children use the Cathedral as a source of ideas for practising printing techniques, working with a variety of different paints, creating collage, making candles and bookmarks or producing sculptures, all to remind them of this inspiring building.
Alternatively, let the children experience working on a collaborative piece such as a giant stained glass window, a stone rubbings collage, a Medieval tiled floor, a complete Lord’s Prayer manuscript or a full-size altar frontal.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Art - 1a, 2b, 2c, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d |
History – Places around us
Special interest tour
Listening to the stories and tales of the people and events in the Cathedral‘s history and seeing this historic building first-hand with all its artefacts, children will learn about the way of life in past ages, find out how things have changed over the years and why the Cathedral is an important part of our local heritage.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | History – 1b, 2a, 2b, 4a, 4b, 6b, 6c, 6d |
History – local history: Medieval Salisbury
Treasure hunt tour
Looking at the Cathedral through the eyes of the craftsmen who built it and finding the medieval things, treasures and places still in the Cathedral today
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 |
| Syllabus: | History – 6b |
Literacy – Cathedral stories
Special interest tour
With black cats, brave knights, bent pillars and ghostly happenings, this tour of the Cathedral will introduce the children to the wealth of stories which this ancient building contains. Children will be actively encouraged to join in with the stories, give responses and ask questions.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | En. 1 Speaking & Listening – 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 9b |
Maths – Shape-up
Hands-on activity
Using the Cathedral as a vast resource, children spot examples of shapes, explore and identify patterns and solve practical problems.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Ma 3 Shape, space and measures – 1a, 1d, 1e, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d |
RE - Festivals
Special interest tour
Focusing on the major Christian seasons of Christmas, Easter or Harvest, children can once again familiarise themselves with the stories and see how the Cathedral prepares for these major celebrations and festivals.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 |
| Syllabus: | En. 1 Speaking & Listening – 2a, 2b, 2c, 3, 9b |
RE - Leaders in the Bible
Storytelling / drama / hands on activity
What makes a good leader? Looking at the Cathedral for evidence of the key leaders in the Bible and learning about various events in their lives, using drama and storytelling. Choice of leader. e.g. Moses , Joseph, Gideon, Elijah, John the Baptist, Paul. Peter etc.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts agreed syllabus |
RE – Parables
Storytelling / drama / hands on activity
Finding out about Jesus the story teller and through one of his parables, learning how stories can have meanings which can help Christians in their daily lives.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE – Special book the Bible
Special interest tour/hands on activity
A day of exploration in the Cathedral and storytelling, hearing some of the key stories in the Old and New Testaments each with its own follow up activity. Stories can be chosen to suit schools needs.
| Timing: | up to 4 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts agreed syllabus |
RE - the Church as a special place
Special interest tour
Looking at the different parts of the Cathedral, exploring what Christians do in church and learning about belonging to a church, children are encouraged to see why the Cathedral is a special place for Christians.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
Salisbury Special – Animal trail
Special interest tour
With the help of several furry friends, children explore the Cathedral to find all the different animals which hide in the building. From hedgehogs and crickets to whales and cheeky monkeys, there are so many to find - but don’t worry, they don’t bite!
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
Science – Forces and motion
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
How did they get the stones up to the top of the Spire? A tour of the Cathedral focusing on its construction, pushes and pulls, seeing a model of the windlass used to raise the stones and having a chance to work on some construction problems first-hand.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Science – Physical processes – 2a, 2b, 2c |
Science - Materials
Hands-on activity
With opportunities to handle all the different types of materials used in building the Cathedral, children are encouraged to consider the properties of the materials, find out about their use and solve some building problems.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Sc3 Materials and their properties – 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 2a |
Science - Senses
Hands-on activity
Using all five senses (yes, even taste!), children are encouraged to investigate and identify features of the Cathedral, in order to appreciate and absorb the things that surround them and find out what actually happens in this great building.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Sc 2 Life processes & living things – 1a, 1b |
Cross-curricular days
Special interest workshops / hands-on activities / art
Opt for a more cross-curricular approach and combine aspects of the Cathedral through art, music, drama, storytelling and plenty of hands-on participation.
Perhaps choose one of the following themes:
- Colour, light and sound
- Festivals
- Special people and places
- Gifts
- Journeys
- Number, pattern and shape
- Buildings / Cathedral Craftsmen
Or suggest your own theme – the Education Centre would be very happy to discuss your ideas and design a day especially for you and your group.
| Timing: | 2 – 4 hours |
| Cost: | dependent on activities |
Key Stage 2
Art activities
Hands-on activity
Choose one of the traditional Cathedral arts and crafts of: stone rubbings, stained ‘glass’, bookmaking, clay tiles, illuminated letters.
Or let the children use the Cathedral as a source of ideas for practising printing techniques, working with a variety of different paints, creating collage, making candles and bookmarks or producing sculptures, all to remind them of this inspiring building.
Alternatively, let the children experience working on a collaborative piece such as a giant stained glass window, a stone rubbings collage, a Medieval tiled floor, a complete Lord’s Prayer manuscript or a full-size altar frontal.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Art – 1a, 1c, 2c, 4b, 4c, 5 |
DT – Cathedral construction
Hands-on activity
How did they do it? How did they build a vast structure with little more than a pulley and an adze? Find out who the medieval craftsmen were, what they did, what tools and structures they used and how they worked their magic. Through using a working model of the Cathedral’s windlass, children see how the medieval masons were able to move their huge amounts of heavy stone. But how did they build a spire? Children are set a variety of tasks to put into practice some of the medieval construction skills.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | DT – 1c, 2b, 2d, 2e, 3a, 4a, 4b, 4c, 5b, 5c |
Geography / PSHE / RE – Sudan
Hands-on activity
With the Cathedral’s special links to the Sudan, the Education Centre offers the chance to investigate a locality that is less economically developed than the UK. Children will be introduced to the country in terms of its physical environment, its people and culture, and the similarities and differences. Children will experience life without access to good water supplies, learn about under-the-tree schooling, have a go at some special arts and crafts and gain a better picture of the Sudan with the difficulties it faces and our response and commitment to it as a developed nation, through charity and aid projects.
| Timing: | 1 hour to full day |
| Cost: | dependent on activities and timings |
| Syllabus: | Geog. – 1a, 2c, 2d, 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3f, 3g, 5b, 6b PSHE – 2a, 2e, 2h, 2j, 4b, 5e RE – Agreed syllabus |
History – Cathedral builders
Drama workshop
Using mime and improvisation, this workshop focusses on the jobs, skills and daily lives of the craftsmen from a variety of different trades who helped build this magnificent Cathedral. From carpenters to quarrymen, all would have been vital to the overall construction. Each child will be given a different trade and through a variety of exercises will work both individually and in groups to depict the workings of the craftsmen. As the work at the Cathedral comes to a close, inspections are made by the architect and the master mason. A final session will decide which workers have reached the grade and are required for the next Cathedral job and which are made redundant, with little further prospect of work.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | History - 2a, 2d English 1 – Speaking & Listening – 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 11a |
History – Chronology challenge
Hands-on activity
Time is ticking. Children have a limited period in which to research particular events and dates of Salisbury Cathedral’s history using the physical building and its contents. Solving various clues they then have to fit this information into a wider national context, complete an overall time-line and answer a final chronological challenge.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | History – 1a, 1b, 2d, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 7 |
History – Local history study
Hands-on activity
Flooding, collapse, war, plague, mysterious deaths – all have threatened the Cathedral at Salisbury. What better place to complete a Local History Study with its centuries of history and its witness to all events from the Norman Conquest to the Second World War. With time looking at the history of the Cathedral and a whole range of hands-on activities.
| Timing: | 1 hour to full day |
| Cost: | dependent on activities and timings |
| Syllabus: | History - 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3, 4a, 4b, 5, 5a, 5b, 5c, 7 |
History – Seeking the source
Hands-on activity
With a wealth of different historical sources all around in the Cathedral, children will learn how to use these to find out about events and people and tackle problems and puzzles which they must solve using their detective skills. But can these sources be trusted? Pupils will be made aware that the past can be interpreted in different ways.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | History - 1b, 3, 4a, 4b, 5a |
History - Victorian day
Role play / hands-on activities
The day takes place in a genuine panelled school room where no smiling is allowed and certainly no giggling is permitted whatsoever. Arriving in role and according to their wealth, children spend time in either the workhouse peeling potatoes or the Master’s House, learning how to be a young gentleman or -woman. With the School Reform Act however, all are expected to attend school and be subjected to the strict discipline of the fearsome schoolmistress and under the watchful eye of the Schools Inspector. With lunch in gloomy silence, there is small light relief in three sessions of drill, Victorian craft and Victorian artefacts, followed by playtime with authentic Victorian games and toys. Warning : Children should definitely be seen and not heard!
| Timing: | 4 hours |
| Cost: | £5.00 per child |
| Syllabus: | History 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 2c, 2d, 11a English 1 – Speaking & Listening – 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 11a |
Literacy – Cathedral stories
Special interest tour
Travel around the Cathedral and hear the stories of the characters that have all played their part in the history of this ancient building. With brave knights, foolish knaves, gentle saints and the odd eccentric organist, the Cathedral is full of amazing, gruesome, amusing and fantastical stories.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | English – Speaking & Listening – 2a, 2b, 2c, 2e, 9a |
Maths – Investigations
Hands-on activity
How many blue whales can you fit into the Cathedral? How many giraffes tall is the spire? How do you tile a room with eight sides? Children work in small groups to solve one of these thorny issues, practising a range of mathematical skills in a very different context from normal school-based activities.
| Timing: | 1 hour to full day |
| Cost: | dependent on timings |
| Syllabus: | Maths – Number & algebra - 1a, 1b, 1d Shape, space and measures – 1b, 1c, 1d, 2b, 4a, 4b |
Maths – Pattern and shape
Interactive tour
Explore the Cathedral looking at all the details from circles to octagons, to intricate floral motifs. Look closely at the Cathedral to find patterns all around – repeats, reflections, rotations, symmetry, tessellation. Use these as a starting point for further exploration with shape and pattern or link it to some artwork.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Maths 3 – Shape, space and measures – 2b, 2c, 2d |
Maths – Shape-up
Hands-on activity
Using the Cathedral with its wealth of different patterns and shapes, children have to classify quadrilaterals with their properties, recognise and explain patterns and relationships, consider perimeter and area and solve mathematical problems and puzzles.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Maths 3 – Shape, space and measures – 1c, 1e, 1h, 2b, 2c, 2d, 3c |
RE: Belonging to a Christian community – exploring values
Special interest tour / question & answer session
Looking at what it means to belong to a Church and investigating some of the rites of passage associated with different denominations. Meeting some of the people who work/worship at the Cathedral and having an opportunity to question them about their commitment.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE - Christianity
Special interest tour
Looking at the life of Christ, his teachings and the building where he is worshipped, the tour of the Cathedral provides a structured exploration through the main themes and beliefs of the Christian faith.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE: Commitment – leaders
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
Looking at the lives of famous Christians, past and present. What impact did their beliefs have on those around them? Characters could include people who have made a difference to the life of the Cathedral.
| Timing: | up to 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE: Expressions of worship
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
How do Christians worship? What is worship? What is special about Cathedral worship? Exploring some of the things that make Cathedral worship special and looking at other forms of Christian worship i.e Baptist, Salvation Army, Taize, Iona.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE - Festivals
Special interest tour
Focussing on the major Christian seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent and Easter, children can once again familiarise themselves with the stories and see first-hand how the Cathedral is used for these celebrations and what preparations need to be made.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed syllabus |
RE: Holy building – the Church
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
How does the Church building help Christians to worship? Looking at the different parts of the Cathedral and exploring Christian symbols to be found in it. What is their significance to Christian worship? Using a Powerpoint presentation compare the Cathedral to a local Baptist church – what are the similarities and differences.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts agreed syllabus |
RE: Parables
Storytelling / drama / hands on activity
Finding out about Jesus the story teller. Why did he tell stories and why are they important for Christians today? How does the Cathedral show the importance of Jesus and his storytelling?
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts agreed syllabus |
RE: Pilgrimage
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
Why is Pilgrimage important to a Christian? This day can begin at Old Sarum or Harnham and include a pilgrimage to the Cathedral ending at the tomb of St. Osmund, a popular pilgrimage destination in medieval times or the day can start much closer to home in the Cathedral Close. Activities at the Cathedral based on pilgrims and their lifestyle, why do they go, where do they go? Perhaps look at a famous pilgrim from history e.g. St. Augustine.
| Timing: | up to 4 hours |
| Cost: | dependent on activities and timings |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed Syllabus |
RE: Place of worship
Interactive tour
Is it a pulpit or a pew, an altar or an aisle? Get to know the layout and purpose of a church or Cathedral. Read from the lectern, kneel to pray in the Trinity Chapel, sing in the quire, experience a baptism and really see how Christians use these buildings for worship.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed Syllabus |
RE: Rules for living – stewardship
Special interest tour / hands-on activity
Explore the Cathedral for clues as to how Christians view the world God made and how we can best look after it.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 |
| Syllabus: | Wilts agreed Syllabus |
RE – School-based unit
Hands-on activity
With sessions led by the Education Centre, the Cathedral is the ideal stimulus for a school based study on Christianity as an ancient seat of Christianity and the Mother Church for the Diocese of Salisbury. A variety of hands-on activities can be tailored to a school’s particular focus for the study.
| Timing: | 1 hour to full day |
| Cost: | dependent on activities and timings |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed Syllabus |
RE – Symbolism
Interactive tour
A secret code or a language we all can read? Use the Cathedral to look for examples of Christian symbols in the actual building itself and its furnishings. Experience a baptism, light a candle, try on some vestments and handle symbolic artefacts to find out where and when they are used and what the meanings are behind them.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed Syllabus |
RE – Symbols
Hands-on activity
With the help of clues, children have to locate ten different Christian symbols within the Cathedral, revise the beliefs and practices behind them and then use the symbols in creating either an altar frontal, a wall hanging or a Bishop’s cope.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Wilts and Dorset agreed Syllabus |
Science – Material world
Interactive tour
Take a tour of the Cathedral and see how strong you are - balance a block of tufa stone on your little finger and bend a huge bar of lead. With whole forests of trees and three and a half football pitches worth of glass, there are many materials which have gone into making Salisbury Cathedral, to see, touch and find out more about.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Science 3 – Materials and their properties – 1a, 1d |
Science – Senses
Hands-on activity
Children investigate and identify features of the Cathedral using all five senses (yes, even taste!), and see how these different faculties help us appreciate and absorb all that surrounds us.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Sc 2 Life processes & living things – 1b, 1g |
Cross-curricular days
Special interest workshops / hands-on activities / art
Opt for a more cross-curricular approach and combine aspects of the Cathedral through art, music, drama, storytelling and plenty of hands-on participation. Perhaps choose one of the following themes:
- Colour, light and sound
- Festivals
- Special people and places
- Gifts
- Journeys
- Number, pattern and shape
- Buildings
- Cathedral craftsmen
Or suggest your own theme – the Education Centre would be very happy to discuss your ideas and design a day especially for you and your group.
| Timing: | 2 – 4 hours |
| Cost: | dependent on activities |
Key Stage 3
Art – 2D & 3D World
Special interest tour
Everything from paintings, brasswork, engravings, stained glass, banners, tapestries and textiles to modern sculptures, wood and stone carvings. Students can use these examples as a stimulus for their own work.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | Art & Design – 1.3a, 1.3b, 1.4, 2.2c, 3c, 4d, 4e, 4g |
Art Activities
Hands-on activity
To complement a visit to the Cathedral, why not look at one of the traditional arts and crafts. See real examples, find out about their history and then let the students create their own. Choose from: stone rubbings, heraldry, stained ‘glass’, bookmaking, medieval clay tiles/gargoyles, illuminated letters.
Or let the students use the Cathedral as a source of ideas, to collect patterns and images and produce 2D or 3D work of their own in response, with a variety of media.
| Timing: | up to 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
Citizenship – Prisoners of Conscience
Role play / discussion / illustrated talk / interactive activities
The scene is a boardroom. The students are all equal citizens of an emerging new nation. Elections are held, a government formed and policies discussed – a democratic process. But as the session progresses, corruption creeps in. What will happen to the citizens? The aim is to highlight the very real issues faced by prisoners of conscience. Linking these ideas to the Prisoners of Conscience window in Salisbury Cathedral, the work of Amnesty International and real case studies of current prisoners, students are encouraged to discuss their own responses and even to take positive action in the form of writing letters of appeal.
NB: This session can be adapted to whatever course of action it would be appropriate for individual students and schools to take.
| Timing: | 2.5 hours |
| Cost: | £2.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | Citizenship – 1.1, 1.2, 2.1a, 2.2, 2.3b, 3a, 3c, 3d, 3e, 4a, 4e |
Drama – Spire Away
Drama workshop
Based on a real-life story concerning the Cathedral’s spire, this workshop looks at the character and antics of a young lad who thought he could impress the king. Using a range of drama techniques, the students will explore both the physical expression of this character as well as his inner thoughts. This workshop includes individual, paired and group work.
| Timing: | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | English – 1.2c, 1.1d, 2.1j, 2.1k, 2.1l, 3.1c, 4.1h, 4.1i |
Geography – Tourism
Special interest short tour / interactive activities / interviews / research and coursework opportunities / information pack
As a hugely popular and accessible local tourist destination which receives in the region of half a million visitors a year, the Cathedral makes an accessible case study. Students are invited to appraise the facilities, analyse data, conduct their own surveys, meet with the Tourism Co-ordinators and to see how the Cathedral manages to balance the conflicting roles of place of worship, heritage building and tourist destination.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | 1.1a, 1.2a, 2.1a, 2.1b, 3a, 3b, 3g, 4b, 4c, 4e |
Geography / Citizenship – Development / the Sudan
Interactive activities / discussion
With the Cathedral’s special links to the Sudan, the Education Centre offers the chance to investigate a locality that is significantly less economically developed than the UK and explore the idea of global citizenship with its moral and social responsibilities. By using a range of hands-on activities, the aim is to encourage students to consider the factors which affect development, the effects that differences in development have on the quality of life and how there is interdependence through trade and aid.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | Geography – 1.1, 1.4, 1.5, 1.7, 2.1a, 3e, 4b, 4f, 4i Citizenship – 1.1d, 2.3a, 2.1a, 3e, 4a, 4g, 4h |
History – Medieval Realms
Special interest tour
In one of the finest medieval Cathedrals in the country, students will have the opportunity to discover first-hand the development of the Cathedral and its changes over time and the sense of continuity. They will investigate the significance of the medieval church, gain an insight into the medieval belief system and consider the development of the political power, parliament and democracy by viewing the finest original copy of the Magna Carta in the whole world.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | History – 1 all Key Concepts, 3b, 3d & 3g, 4c |
History – King John and Magna Carta
Role play in costume
Students are assigned real characters and with adults to play the roles of King John and the Archbishop of Canterbury, they will be involved in a simulation of the rule of this monarch in 1215. They will experience what it is like to lose all their worldly goods and in growing opposition to the king, will band together to create the Articles and end the ultimate battle for power. A plenary session will draw together aspects learnt during the game – the narrative history, the social and political issues and the consequences for social justice and the beginnings of parliamentary rule.
| Timing: | 1 - 1.5 hours |
| Cost: | £1.50 |
| Syllabus: | History - 1.1b, 1.4, 1.5, 3b, 3d, 3g, 4a |
History – the Black Death
Drama workshop
Focussing on improvisation, this workshop uses the scenario of a Wiltshire village as it receives news of the advancing pestilence. What will the villagers do, should they stay or should they flee? A range of drama techniques is used to explore ideas of empathy and character and the differing beliefs about the plague; why it came, how it travelled and what could be done to cure it. In the end a third of the village will die – the hand of fate will be dealt. A final session draws together the social and political issues and the far-reaching consequences both for the individual and the state.
| Timing: | 1 – 1.5 hours |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | History – 1.1b, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 1.5, 4a, 4b |
History – Historical evidence
Interactive activities
Investigating various Cathedral artefacts and historical sources, students will be collecting evidence of significant events, people and changes which have affected the Cathedral, covering a variety of political, religious, social and technological perspectives and building up a picture of life in medieval Britain.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | History – 1 all Key Concepts, 2.1, 2.2, 3b, 3d, 3g, 4b |
History – Solving a murder mystery
Interactive activities
Using a range of both primary and secondary sources in the Cathedral, students will have to use all their skills of research and interpretation to find out as much as they can about one of Salisbury’s famous medieval celebrity figures. A plenary session which brings together incriminating objects from a medieval murder mystery, will raise the question of bias and how events can be interpreted in different ways.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | History – 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 3b, 3d, 3g, 4b, 4c |
History – Solving a murder mystery
Interactive activities
Using a range of both primary and secondary sources in the Cathedral, students will have to use all their skills of research and interpretation to find out as much as they can about one of Salisbury’s famous medieval celebrity figures. A plenary session which brings together incriminating objects from a medieval murder mystery, will raise the question of bias and how events can be interpreted in different ways.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | History – 1.4, 1.5, 1.6, 2.1, 2.2, 3b, 3d, 3g, 4b, 4c |
Literacy – Myths and Legends
Special interest tour
With stories such as the deer and the archer, the murderous organist, the Virgin Mary’s robe, Elizabeth Sadler’s night - time habits and even a Medieval murder mystery thrown in for good measure, the stories of these fascinating characters will make the building come alive.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per child |
| Syllabus: | English - 1.2a, 1.4a, 4.1i |
Maths – Cracking the Sarum Code
Illustrated talk / interactive activity
An intriguing maths investigation, Cracking The Sarum Code follows the premise that much of the magnificent medieval building at Salisbury Cathedral was constructed based on the Golden Ratio or Divine Proportion. This session looks back at the Fibonacci sequence, explains the Golden Ratio and sets the students the ultimate challenge of finding out if the Cathedral’s layout really does hold these precious secrets.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
| Syllabus: | Maths – 1.1a, 1.3c, 2.1a, 2.2h, 2.2j, 2.2k, 2.2l, 3.1c, 3.2g, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4f |
RE – Christianity – Ultimate Questions
Special interest short tour / interactive activities / interviews & discussion
Looking at religious practices in the Cathedral and the life of Christ and his teachings, this discussion-based activity provides a structured exploration of the main themes of the Christian faith and may focus on a variety of questions such as belonging to a faith community, sacrifice, suffering or life after death. Sessions will include individual, paired and group work.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
RE – Learning About / From Religion
Special interest short tour / interviews and discussions
A visit to the Cathedral not only provides students with the experience of visiting a place of major religious significance, but also offers opportunities for encountering different people and authorities in the Christian faith, discussing with them important issues in religion and philosophy including ultimate questions and ethical issues, whilst also developing the students’ own beliefs and ideas.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
RE – Rites of Passage
Special interest short tour / interactive activities / discussions
Using the relevant locations and the ready resources within the Cathedral, students will be able to take part in a mock wedding, in order to open up discussion about Christian marriage and / or look at the funeral service to evaluate how religious beliefs and teachings inform answers to ultimate questions such as life after death.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
RE – Symbolism
Special interest tour
A tour of the Cathedral to identify examples of Christian symbols and find out the meanings behind them. Students will have the opportunity to see how, where and when they are used in the building and their significance in acts of worship. Special access to Cathedral vestments, textiles and treasures may be arranged.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £2.50 per student |
RE – Symbolism and Religion in Art
Interactive & hands-on activities
Understanding the language of symbolism provides the key to the beliefs, teachings and practices of the Christian faith. Looking at the physical building itself and with special access to the Cathedral vestments, artefacts and textiles, more common symbols will be revisited and new ones introduced. The session may be used to explore the connections between religion and art, by incorporating discussion-based activities and / or the creation of a piece of artwork produced as an individual’s response.
| Timing: | 1 hour |
| Cost: | £1.50 per student |
Key Stage 4
Art & Design – Textiles / 3-D Design Sculpture
Special interest short tour / hands-on activities / interviews
Visit the Cathedral to see first-hand supreme examples of these arts. View the collections, perhaps even the workshops. Learn about the social, historical and cultural aspects, find out about the contemporary and historical practitioners and meet current proponents of these disciplines.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Business Studies
Special interest short tour / hands-on activities / interviews / opportunities for case study research / information pack
As well as being a leading place of worship and a hugely popular heritage attraction, the Cathedral is a multi-faceted business employing a hundred people with a turnover of £4million. With its reliance on tourism, its close involvement with the construction and conservation trades and the particular demands as both a religious site and a tourist destination, a unique business environment is created. Students have the opportunity to visit the different departments, learn about marketing and finance and meet people from the organisation.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Geography – Managing Resources
Special interest short tour / hands-on activities / interviews / opportunities for case study research / information pack
As a hugely popular and accessible local tourist destination which receives in the region of half a million visitors a year, the Cathedral makes a fascinating case study or possible topic for coursework. With the conflicting demands however, of being a place of worship and a heritage site, difficulties can arise. Students are invited to appraise the facilities, analyse data, conduct their own surveys, meet with the Tourism Co-ordinators and see first-hand how the Cathedral deals with the socio-economic and environmental consequences of the visitors. Information pack also included.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
History – Coursework: History Around Us
Special interest tour / hands-on activities / opportunities for case study research
For coursework or a local study, what could be better than the Cathedral which has witnessed everything from the Crusades and the Black Death, to the Reformation, the Civil War and two World Wars? With the visible resources of the building itself, the artefacts and written sources, each period of history can be brought dramatically to life with its different historical interpretations and cultural, political and social context.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Leisure & Tourism
Special interest short tour / hands-on activities / interviews / opportunities for case study research / information pack
As a hugely popular and accessible local tourist destination which receives in the region of half a million visitors a year, the Cathedral makes a fascinating case study. Through visiting the Cathedral, meeting with the Tourism Co-ordinators and hands-on sessions, students will discover how it meets the needs of tourists, develop an understanding of how it operates as a business and find out about employment possibilities, marketing and the importance of customer service.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Sociology
Special interest short tour / interviews & discussion / information pack
Part of the Cathedral’s mission is to promote social justice and elicit change. Its beautiful window to commemorate Prisoners of Conscience and its support of the Human Rights Group Amnesty International amongst other organisations, provides the stimulus for discussion on the wider social issues of inequality, power and authority.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Religious Studies
Special interest short tour / interviews & discussion
Whether it is the authority of the Bible, patterns of worship, festivals, rites of passage, or Christian values, morality, ultimate questions, life issues, human rights and responsibilities, the Cathedral has had eight hundred years to come up with some possible answers. It provides the natural focal point for these discussions and the experts to lead them.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Post 16
With a more seminar-type feel, these sessions use illustrated lectures, discussion sessions, hands-on activities, specially selected tours and meetings with professionals to give students first-hand experience of the Cathedral as a place of worship, a heritage building, a place for arts, a vital part of the local tourist industry and the inspiration for an important piece of twentieth century literature.
AS English Literature (AQA) William Golding ‘The Spire’
Special interest short tour / tower tour / seminar: background information & discussion / information pack
A visit here will really bring the novel alive and allow students to absorb first-hand the sheer scale and majesty of Salisbury which surely formed the basis for Golding’s novel. With an introductory talk to set the scene on Medieval life and the Church, a tour of the key places in the novel, an exhilarating trip up the tower to see the magnificent craftsmanship of the Master Mason and an opportunity for question-led discussion, students can really get to grips with this challenging novel.
| Timing: | 3.5 hours |
| Cost: | £6.50 per student |
NB - Tower tour – a reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights is required. Health and safety restrictions apply.
Special interest short tour / tower tour (optional) / seminar: background information & discussion
Business Studies
Special interest short tour / seminar: background information, interviews & discussion / information pack
Use the Cathedral as a case study of a complex and unique business. Research and explore aspects and issues of marketing, accounting, finance, people and operations management, business strategy and external influences. Meet with professionals, see the business in action.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Special interest short tour / seminar: discussion
History of Art (Gothic era)
Special interest short tour / tower tour (optional) / seminar: background information & discussion
Salisbury Cathedral is regarded by some as the epitome of Gothic church architecture in Britain. For a general introduction to this stylistic period, discussion and analysis of the features and their wider significance and a critique of Salisbury itself, what better place than the interior itself where glorious features abound. If you have time, a tower tour is well worth a longer stay.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours (add 1.5 hours for a tower tour) |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student (add £3.50 for a tower tour) |
NB - Tower tour – a reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights is required. Health and safety restrictions apply.
Religious Studies: Religion and Human Experience / Ethics / Science / Culture / Philosophy.
Special interest short tour / seminar: discussions & interviews
An opportunity to discover more of the doctrine and rituals and to discuss in-depth a wide range of issues with both clergy and lay people based at the Cathedral. Coursework opportunities too.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
Sociology
Special interest short tour / seminar: discussion
Come and discuss matters of religion, questions of wealth, poverty and welfare, families, changing rites of passage, the world, the universe and everything!
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
BTEC Travel and Tourism (First Diploma / National Diploma / HND)
Special interest short tour / seminar: background information, interviews & discussion / information pack
Covering aspects of heritage and cultural management, special interest tourism and visitor attraction management, these sessions identify range and diversity of visitor types, look at impact and motivation theories, raise questions of development and sustainability and help illustrate the nature of heritage and cultural providers.
| Timing: | 2 -3 hours |
| Cost: | £3.50 per student |
VI Form Conferences - date to be advised for 2009
Topics include ethics, science and religion, tackling poverty, climate change, social justice.
Adult Education
Art for Adults
The Education Centre runs a programme of day courses for adults in a range of different arts and crafts. These days primarily act as an introduction or as a taster session, but there is the opportunity for developing further skills in some of the areas. Many of the courses use the wonderful Cathedral as a resource or as inspiration for the work.
William Golding ‘The Spire’
Special interest short tour / tower tour / illustrated talk / discussion
Ideal for reading groups and those interested in literature, this visit will help bring this challenging work to life. Starting over coffee, enjoy an illustrated talk to set the scene on Medieval life and the Church as background for the novel, then enter the Cathedral to see the key places which appear in the story. Venture up the tower for an exhilarating tour to see the magnificent craftsmanship of the Master Mason and finish with a more relaxed session discussing the finer points of Golding’s characters and themes.
| Timing: | 3.5 hours |
| Cost: | £12.00 per head. Min. 4 adults |
NB - Tower tour – a reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights is required. Health and safety restrictions apply.
Gothic Architecture and Design
Special interest tour / illustrated talk / discussion / tower tour (optional)
Ideal for groups wanting an introduction to Gothic architecture and the characteristics of Early English in particular, this session is suitable for the complete beginner with no prior knowledge. The illustrated talk helps put the rise of the Gothic era into context, identifies the features and looks at the reasons for the technological change. Then of course, the Cathedral itself forms the showpiece of Early English and a tour of the building considers the characteristics of its layout, scale and decoration and encourages participants to engage in a critique of this iconic place. An optional tower tour
| Timing: | 2 hours (add 2 hours for a tower tour) |
| Cost: | £8.00 per head. (add £6.50 for a tower tour) Min. 4 adults |
NB - Tower tour – a reasonable level of fitness and a good head for heights is required. Health and safety restrictions apply.
Holiday Activities
Young at Art
Art and craft sessions for children age 7 - 11 which take place in the summer, Christmas and Easter holidays. Lasting two hours, this is a chance for parents and guardians to leave their charges in the capable hands of Education Staff and volunteers, giving the youngsters an opportunity to experiment with a variety of different creative activities in a safe environment. All supervisory adults have been CRB checked and undergone child protection training.
| Timing: | 2 hours |
| Cost: | £2 per child. Just come along! |
Family Discovery Days
A chance for families to visit the Cathedral together and explore its hidden mysteries. From Green Men, to dragons and mythical creatures, each session includes exploration inside the Cathedral, solving clues and an art activity to finish. A great way to see the Cathedral and have fun together at the same time.
| Cost: | £5 per family (2 adults and up to 3 children) Booking required. |
Non-school groups
The Education Centre warmly welcomes groups from churches, WI s, U3A, Sunday Schools, youth groups, uniformed organisations and so on.
Visits are tailored to your exact requirements and the Centre is always happy to discuss new ideas and proposals and work with you to develop a special visit. Is there a specific aspect of the Cathedral’s life or history that you want specialist input about? Perhaps there is badge that the Cubs are working towards? Perhaps the Sunday School want to experience a mini worship in the vast and ancient surroundings of the Cathedral? Maybe you are just looking for an end of year activity which is fun but a bit different? Contact the Education Centre and they will be happy to talk things through.
Weekend/evening visits may be arranged.
Inset training /CPD
Training courses will commence in January 2009. Please contact us for details.
Outreach - we come to you
The Education Centre also offers an outreach service to special interest adult groups and to schools or other organisations, where we ‘bring’ the Cathedral to you!
Outreach to adult groups
The Head of Education is available to give talks to special interest adults groups, on the Cathedral’s life, its history, the architecture, William Golding’s ‘The Spire’ or the work of the Education Centre. Fees as appropriate.
Outreach to schools
Programme 1 – Holy Building / Special Place
Looking at the Cathedral as a special place of worship. Experiencing a ‘virtual tour’ and handling artefacts from the Cathedral to investigate the layout and key features of places of worship e.g. font, pulpit etc. and enabling comparisons to be made with local churches.
Programme 2 – Symbolism
What is a symbol? Why do we have them? Looking at artefacts and images from the Cathedral which show examples of Christian symbols used within worship. Investigating and learning the meanings of these symbols which have importance in Christianity.
Programme 3 - Expressions of Worship
What is worship? How do Christians worship? Investigating how the Cathedral embraces elements of worship e.g. awe, wonder, silence within a traditional framework and how this compares to more modern styles of worship.
Programme 4 – Prayer
Why do we pray? Does it make a difference? Looking at a range of prayers from Bible times to the present day prayers used in Cathedral worship and investigating their meaning.
Programme 5 – Festivals
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter etc. Schools can either focus on one appropriate festival for the time of year or look at several, showing how they link together to make up the Christian year.
All programmes are led by a qualified representative from the Cathedral Education staff. Each programme will contain:-
- An introduction to the Cathedral as a special place
- Artefacts from the Cathedral
- Acts of collective worship
- Powerpoint presentations
- Teaching sessions
- Hands-on activities
Further details may be found by contacting the Education Centre.
| Timing: | Half day | Full day |
| Cost: | £75 | £120 |
Non UK-based schools
Foreign exchange visits arranged through UK schools are handled by the Education Centre. Contact the Centre for further details or to book your visit.
Visits from non-UK based schools and Language Schools are served by the Cathedral Visitors’ Services Department. Contact the groups co-ordinator to make your booking on: groups@salcath.co.uk or 01722 555124