Stafford Castle School Tour Information

Stafford Castle...The Educational Experience!

Our school tours cover the fascinating history of the castle site, with its eleventh century Norman fortress consisting of a large motte and two extensive bailies together with its associated medieval village. The foundations of the1348 medieval stone keep of the Staffords' can be seen, as well as its later reconstruction. The visitor centre, recreating a Norman Guardhouse, offers many possibilities, especially through the stimulus of role-play. There is the opportunity to try on mail and helmets, to handle shields and weapons and discuss medieval life, military and domestic, rich and poor.

The medieval garden, with its emphasis on medicinal and culinary herbs, is also a popular area to visit. Each bed is labelled to identify its particular area of use e.g., culinary, dyeing or medicinal. Further information can be obtained from the visitor centre.

School visits to Stafford Castle are designed to be cross-curricular as the content helps to support many schemes of work within the national curriculum for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3. These include:

Key Stage 1 - 2:
History Unit 18, Art and Design Units 2C and 9, Citizenship Unit 9, D&T Unit 1D and Geography Unit 9.

Key Stage 3:
Art and Design Units 7B and 10, Citizenship Unit 1 and History Units 2 and 3.

Hands on activities and role-play are also designed to encourage and stimulate team building, drama, art, and language skills.

We have been delighted by the interest shown by pupils from Special Schools and would urge you to contemplate a visit if you have not done so already. A visiting teacher reported: "I try to make history lessons as interesting as possible at school, but nothing can ever teach them as much as they learn from exploring the castle and trying on the mail and helmets."

Although the visitor centre and toilets are freely accessible to wheelchair users it is best to discuss access to the castle with a member of staff before your visit.

Adjacent to the visitor centre there is ample parking suitable for a coach or mini bus. Packed lunches may be eaten on picnic tables or, by arrangement, in the visitor centre during inclement weather.

Stafford Castle's gift shop stocks a wide variety of souvenirs, gifts, and history publications, all at affordable prices.

If your special school is unable to visit Stafford castle we will bring the Castle to you complete with costumed guides, hands on activities and role-play opportunities! Please telephone for further details.

Stafford Castle's Medieval History Tour

The tour includes:

• Guided tour of Stafford Castle's grounds and keep
• Role play opportunities with tabards
• Hands on examination and explanation of arms and armour and their development
• A chance to handle arms and armour
• Brass rubbing activity
• Coin minting workshop
• The opportunity to complete a Stafford Castle quiz sheet

Cost only £3.50 inclusive of all materials

New Activity on offer!

Medieval herb activity - This will include a tour of the castle's own medieval herb garden along with a discussion on the many uses of herbs in the past. Discover the sights and smells of this tranquil area and take part in a hands-on activity using herbs.

This new activity helps to support the following QCA Schemes of work for Science at KS1-2:

Units 1B, 2B and 3B

Two activities are included in the price of the tour; this new activity may be taken in place of either brass rubbing or coin minting. Alternatively, all three activities may be included at an extra charge of 50p per student. Please speak to visitor centre staff about the extended length of the tour.

Teachers and helpers are invited to accompany their students free of charge

We will endeavour to adapt the tours to meet your individual school's curricular needs so please do not hesitate to advise us of any particular requirements.

We are open for pre-booked tours Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm. Tours can start earlier if required.

If you require any further information please telephone us at Stafford Castle on 01785 257698 or email: staffordcastle@staffordbc.gov.uk

Castle Visitor Booking Form

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Contact

If you require any further information please contact us at Stafford Castle:

Tel: 01785 257 698 (or 01785 619131)

Email: staffordcastle@staffordbc.gov.uk

We look forward to hearing from you.