Education programmes

An overview of our education programme

Primary Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2

Romans
Archaeology and history of Roman settlement on the site. Opportunities to handle Roman artefacts and wear Roman costume (try the helmet). Grind corn and herbs. Look at where food was grown and the use of the river for trade.
Tudors
(1) Stories of the Tudor Palace, the bishops and their royal visitors. The lives of rich and poor.
(2) Costume from portraits and for all the class. Tudor market stall with food and garden produce. Visit the Tudor courtyard.
Victorians
(1) Tales of the Victorian bishops and their families. Upstairs/ downstairs in a large house and garden with grand and servant costume for all the class.
(2) Schooling and jobs for Victorian children. Be taught in a board school or by a governess. Work as a gardener’s boy with the head gardener, use the large handling collection.
The Blitz
Fulham Palace in wartime – bombs and air raid shelters. Life of children in London. Evacuation, rationing and growing food in allotments. Costume and handling for all. Atmospheric session with lots of role-play.
Toys
(1) Large handling collection with historic toys, sessions of ‘play at the Palace’.
(2) Toys through the ages and the world - how toys worked before the Game Boy. What is a toy? Children are the experts! Key stage 1 - 2 and Reception.
Creepie Crawlies
Recording and observing the garden and its inhabitants (April to September only).
Materials and their Properties
The characteristics of different materials and what can be made from them. Examples from the Palace and on-site archaeology. Handling collection.
Local Environment
The Palace in the context of the local area. Maps and photos. Spot the difference between maps of different ages. Explore the garden and moat.

Special needs

The tranquil building and gardens are a sympathetic environment for special needs schools, who are very welcome. All the above sessions are available with a sensory curriculum. Please contact us directly to discuss the individual needs of your class. Wheelchair access.

Secondary schools

We understand the difficulties of museum visits and the secondary time table, so we offer flexible, on-site and outreach programmes. Individual topics and cross-curricular days can be arranged. Topics covered are:

Reformation History – Tudor life.
Local Environment – history and geography.
Art and Design - based on the building and garden and any relevant exhibition.
Citizenship – Slavery, local personalities and history.
PSHE – Health, herbs and medicine.

Topics have costume, archive material and resources where appropriate. Lunchroom available. Booking is essential.

Life-long learning

Talks
Talks on various subjects related to the Palace or the Palace’s exhibitions – afternoon or evenings. Usually a series in the spring and autumn.
Embroidery
Practical day sessions taught by highly-qualified teachers. Usually weekly for a month after Christmas. Historical techniques and images related to the Palace.
Holiday Workshops for Children and Carers.
Palace-inspired ‘making’ activities such as mosaics or Tudor costume. Every school half term and holiday. Ages 6yrs. – 12yrs.
Activity Days
Activity days provided for groups such as scouts, guides or community groups. Often weekends or holidays.
Family Days
Activities for the whole family, usually based around an exhibition or special event such as Museums Month, Open House or Archaeology Week. Handling resources, costume, food, digging.
Tours
Group tours for children or adults around the building and garden. With or without refreshment. All year round. Regular public tours, private tours can be booked.

For further details on our education service or to arrange a booking please telephone 020 77363233 or email education@fulhampalace.org. For dates of our various life-long learning events please go to the events page.