Education
& Schools

A range of full-day educational workshops for schools.

Just outside of Durham and conducted by our experienced education officer, our exciting and engaging school workshops give pupils the opportunity to explore our unique history, collections and grounds.

Ushaw wins Historic Houses 2024 Frances Garnham Award for Education

In November 2024, Ushaw won the Historic Houses Frances Garnham Award for Education. The award commemorates the achievements of Frances Garnham, who worked as Director of Policy and Campaigns at Historic Houses until 2015.


See the video below explaining more about the award.

Workshops

Inspiring Architecture

Get hands on making your own
architectural structures in an inspirational setting

Explore Ushaw’s stunning architecture in a full day hands on workshop where we will be designing and working to briefs celebrating archways and stained glass windows.

Suitable for Key Stage 2

National Curriculum links: Art & DT

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Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2

National Curriculum links: History, RE & Art 

KS2 Design & Technology

  • Use research and develop design criteria to inform the design of innovative, functional, appealing products that are fit for purpose, aimed at particular individuals or groups

  • Select from and use a wider range of materials and components, including construction materials, textiles and ingredients, according to their functional properties and aesthetic qualities Evaluate

  • Investigate and analyse a range of existing products

  • Evaluate their ideas and products against their own design criteria and consider the views of others to improve their work

  • Understand how key events and individuals in design and technology have helped shape the world

  • Apply their understanding of how to strengthen, stiffen and reinforce more complex structures

KS2 Art 

Pupils should be taught:

  • About great artists, architects and designers in history

Spring/Summer Science Walk

Join our education officer on a guided walk through our beautiful gardens and protected meadow. 

Learn about the plants and animals that call Ushaw home. Gather plant samples which will then be used to create impression tiles which you can take home with you.

Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2

National Curriculum links: Science, Art & PE

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Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2

National Curriculum links: Science, Art & PE

Science

Y1

Identify and name a variety of common wild and garden plants, including deciduous and evergreen trees  identify and describe the basic structure of a variety of common flowering plants, including trees.

Y2

Identify that most living things live in habitats to which they are suited and describe how different habitats provide for the basic needs of different kinds of animals and plants, and how they depend on each other  identify and name a variety of plants and animals in their habitats, including microhabitats

Y3

Identify and describe the functions of different parts of flowering plants: roots, stem/trunk, leaves and flowers  explore the requirements of plants for life and growth (air, light, water, nutrients from soil, and room to grow) and how they vary from plant to plant 

Y4

Explore and use classification keys to help group, identify and name a variety of living things in their local and wider environment 

Y5

Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird.

Y6

 

Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants and animals  give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics. 
Art
  • KS1

    To use a range of materials creatively to design and make products  to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination  to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space 

  • KS2
    To improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay] 
PE
  • Aims: to be physically active for sustained periods of time

Keep the Faith a Secret

Delve into Ushaw’s 450-year history and discover the lengths England’s Catholics went to in order to protect their way of life at a time when being a Catholic became illegal.

Crack the secret codes used to practise faith in secret and uncover gruesome punishments. Interact with real artefacts from the 17th century as we discover what life was like for Catholics. In this PSHE/Citizenship session, we will discuss how a religion became outlawed and decide whether we would risk our lives or try and protect ourselves, and find out whether intolerance really has been banished to the past.

Suitable for Key Stage 2
National Curriculum links: PSHE and History

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History KS2:

A study of an aspect of history or a site dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality.

A study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066

PSHE Association: Programme of study for PSHE Education, 

Core Theme 2. Relationships

  • R14. to realise the nature and consequences of discrimination, teasing, bullying and aggressive behaviours (including cyber bullying, use of prejudice-based language, ‘trolling’, how to respond and ask for help)

Core Theme 3. Living in the wider world

  • L1. to research, discuss and debate topical issues, problems and events that are of concern to them and offer their recommendations to appropriate people
  • L8. to resolve differences by looking at alternatives, seeing and respecting others’ points of view, making decisions and explaining choices.
  • L11. to appreciate the range of national, regional, religious and ethnic identities in the United Kingdom.
  • L12. to consider the lives of people living in other places, and people with different values and customs.
  • L17. to explore and critique how the media present information.

Victorian School Day Experience

This immersive experience will bring history to life in a fun, memorable and engaging way. 

Be led through your day by our very own Victorian schoolmaster who has been sucked through a time vortex just to see you. Enjoy subjects taught in these very rooms many years ago as you experience life as an Ushaw scholar. 

Conducted by our Schools Education Officer and Activate Theatre.

Suitable for Key Stage 2
National Curriculum links: History, PE & Geography

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Suitable for Key Stage 2

National Curriculum links: History, PE & Geography 

History
  • a local history study
  • a study of an aspect or theme in British history that extends pupils’ chronological knowledge beyond 1066
PE
  • develop flexibility, strength, technique, control and balance [for example, through athletics and gymnastics]
Geography
  • interpret a range of sources of geographical information, including maps, diagrams, globes, aerial photographs and Geographical Information Systems
  • use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world
It was fun to experience an authentic Victorian classroom.
Amelia, 9
I enjoyed hearing about things they would do in those days, especially the sports.
Maisie, 9
I enjoyed learning the Latin words and their translations.
Fin, 9
We all had a fabulous time
Natasha, 11
I loved every second of it
Kiera, 10

Pugins Pupils

Discover how the Pugins created such a wonderful building.

Starting with a tour of the majestic chapels, we will discover just what makes the buildings so special. We will explore the different areas of the church, and how they are still used today for religious services. Using the incredible work of Pugin as our inspiration, we will create art work in his style using mediums such as printing or stained glass windows.

Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2
National Curriculum links: History, RE & Art 

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Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2
National Curriculum links: History, RE & Art 

RE

(Taken from Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education in Durham 2020)

KS1: Christianity - introduction to beliefs and practices and their impact. Example of Unit Question - How do Christians celebrate Easter?

KS2: Christianity – beliefs and practices across the denominations and the impact of these for individuals and communities.

History

KS1: significant historical events, people and places in their own locality.

KS2: a study of an aspect of history or a site dating from a period beyond 1066 that is significant in the locality.

Art

KS1:

  • to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work. 

KS2:

  • to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
  • to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
  • to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
  • about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Beasts and Beyond

Unlock some of the beastly secrets held deep in the library.

Discover the beasts that are lurking within its pages and the tales of how they came to be there. Join us as we try to work out what the author was describing, before creating our own book of curiosities. Enjoy an introduction to historic illustration as we use printing techniques to bring our creations to life.

Suitable for Key Stages 2 & 3
National Curriculum links: English & Art 

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Suitable for Key Stages 2 & 3
National Curriculum links: English & Art

English
  • appreciate our rich and varied literary heritage
  • write clearly, accurately and coherently, adapting their language and style in and for a range of contexts, purposes and audiences 
  • use discussion in order to learn; they should be able to elaborate and explain clearly their understanding and ideas
  • give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings
  •  use spoken language to develop understanding through speculating, hypothesising, imagining and exploring ideas

Y3/4

  • develop positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by:
  • listening to and discussing a wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks 
  • reading books that are structured in different ways and reading for a range of purposes 
  • using dictionaries to check the meaning of words that they have read 
  • increasing their familiarity with a wide range of books, including fairy stories, myths and legends, and retelling some of these orally
  • retrieve and record information from non-fiction 
  • participate in discussion about both books that are read to them and those they can read for themselves, taking turns and listening to what others say.

Y5/6

  • pupils should be taught to maintain positive attitudes to reading and understanding of what they read by: continuing to read and discuss an increasingly wide range of fiction, poetry, plays, non-fiction and reference books or textbooks
  • reading books that are structured in different ways and reading for a range of purposes 
  • increasing their familiarity with a wide range of books, including myths, legends and traditional stories, modern fiction, fiction from our literary heritage, and books from other cultures and traditions
Art

KS1:

  • to use a range of materials creatively to design and make products.
  • to use drawing, painting and sculpture to develop and share their ideas, experiences and imagination.
  • to develop a wide range of art and design techniques in using colour, pattern, texture, line, shape, form and space
  • about the work of a range of artists, craft makers and designers, describing the differences and similarities between different practices and disciplines, and making links to their own work. 

KS2:

  • to develop their techniques, including their control and their use of materials, with creativity, experimentation and an increasing awareness of different kinds of art, craft and design.
  • to create sketch books to record their observations and use them to review and revisit ideas.
  • to improve their mastery of art and design techniques, including drawing, painting and sculpture with a range of materials [for example, pencil, charcoal, paint, clay]
  • about great artists, architects and designers in history.

Mysteries Abound

Do you have a cunning team of sleuths to help us solve a mystery which has confounded our best detectives?

Join us for a day of hunting clues, solving puzzles and using your logic, reasoning and inference skills to help us finally unearth what happened. Similar to an escape room, clues will be hidden around the house and grounds for children to find in small groups. These clues will require a range of skills from logic and inference to map reading and orienteering. An immersive day of sleuthing culminating with a presentation of their evidence and theories in the theatre.  

Suitable for Key Stage 2
National Curriculum links: Maths, English & Geography

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Suitable for Key Stage 1 & 2
National Curriculum links: Maths, English & Geography 

Maths
  • solve problems in context using a range of number skills
English
  • making inferences on the basis of what is being said and done
  • predicting what might happen on the basis of what has been read so far
  • participate in discussion about what is read to them, taking turns and listening to what others say
  • Justifying inferences with evidence
Geography
  •  use maps, atlases, globes and digital/computer mapping to locate countries and describe features studied 
  • use the eight points of a compass, four and six-figure grid references, symbols and key (including the use of Ordnance Survey maps) to build their knowledge of the United Kingdom and the wider world

Planning

Your Visit

Please book your session in advance.

Free teacher pre-visit included.

 

Open Hours

Workshops run from
10am - 2.30pm
Monday - Friday

Prices

Workshops are priced from £5 per child

Booking

To organise your visit,
please contact us
via email at [email protected]