Shakespeare’s Family Homes Tours and Workshops Stratford-upon-Avon

The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust cares for the five Shakespeare Family Homes and offers an exceptional and unique ‘Shakespeare-centered’ experience. With outstanding archives and library collections, we have developed a range of inspiring and memorable educational sessions and workshops for all key stages and ages, designed to deepen the understanding and enjoyment of Shakespeare’s works and times.

Each of the five houses has its own theme and is rich in educational value.

From his first home, the Birthplace, to Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, home of his wife’s family through to Mary Arden’s Farm, where his mother grew up and is still run as a working Tudor farm, the houses help create a vivid picture of Shakespeare’s life and times.

Whether you’re introducing Shakespeare to children at KS1 and KS2 or expanding the knowledge of KS3, 4 and 5 students, we offer a range of hands-on and inspiring courses to bring Shakespeare and his works to life. All of our work is delivered by our experienced and knowledgeable education team to pupils of all ages and is carefully designed to be hands-on and engaging. We offer a diverse range of learning activities that bring Shakespeare and British history to life in practical and creative ways and supporting your curriculum.

• We were awarded the Sandford Award in 2015
• We were again awarded the Sandford Award in 2021 for our key stage 1 and 2 workshops

We offer a range of hands-on, informative and inspiring courses to bring Shakespeare and his works to life for all ages and key stages. Schools can choose from a range of sessions and options, including admission to the Shakespeare Family Homes. Please see the website for full details of our extensive programme:

www.shakespeare.org.uk/education/schools/

KS1

Full day onsite workshops at Mary Arden’s Farm focusing on Shakespeare’s Tudor family life. Hands-on learning and story-telling rooted in historical discovery:

• Sharing Shakespeare’s Story
• William on the Farm.

KS2

A range of full day hands-on learning activities and drama workshops that bring Shakespeare and British history to life in practical and creative ways:

• Tudors Alive!
• Best Will in the World
• The Play’s the Thing

KS3 and 4

An illustrated, interactive talk to inform, engage and excite your students about Shakespeare’s life and times:

• Brush Up Your Shakespeare

[We also offer outreach sessions for key stages 2-4.]

A Level

Bespoke talks focussing on your chosen Shakespeare play. Designed to suit the needs of your students and your exam syllabus. [All exam boards covered.]

For more information or to make a booking, please email learning@shakespeare.org.uk .

School groups must have a minimum ratio of one adult to every eight children (KS1 & KS2) and one to ten (KS3 and above).

Optimum of one class of thirty for workshops, please get in touch to discuss options for larger group sizes.

Large groups will be accommodated but we do ask them to split into parties of approximately 25 when going through the Houses.

Developed by the Learning Department, we have a range of educational resources for use in the classroom and to enhance a school trip to Shakespeare’s family homes. These can be found on our website: www.shakespeare.org.uk/education/teaching-resources/.

Non-flash photography is permitted within the houses. Video and audio recording is not permitted.

Assistance is available in preparing the visit risk assessments – free familiarization visits are available for teachers. Please request this at the time of booking.

For more information, please contact the Learning department by email:  learning@shakespeare.org.uk  or call  01789 201805.

Please see our website for latest costs www.shakespeare.org.uk/education/schools/ or email the Learning Department Learning@shakespeare.org.uk.

No.

We have First aiders but it is always advisable to provide them within your group.

There is a gift shop at all of the Shakespeare Houses.

The Shakespeare Houses are historic sites and physical access around some of the Houses can be limited. However, our staff are happy to assist in any way possible. Please discuss your needs with the Group Visits team so that they can ensure we are able to provide the experience you are looking for.

Please see the website for full and up to date information. Hours vary by house and by season.

www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit/plan-your-visit/educational-visits/

Exciting and entertaining speakers, who combined thoughtful questioning, expert knowledge and force of personality to engage students in dialogue about the text. Perfectly pitched for A Level students going off to university.

[Queen Mary’s Grammar School, Walsall]

It was pitched perfectly to the students: accessible but also broadening their (and my!) knowledge of the play.

[More House School, London]

Our pupils thoroughly enjoyed the session and spoke very highly of it to their teachers when they went back to class so thank you again!

[Selly Park Girls’ School, Birmingham]

Excellent engaging activities that really captured the children and gave them a better understanding of Tudor Times. Fantastic venue and very knowledgeable and friendly staff.

[Our Lady and St Rose of Lima Catholic Primary School, Birmingham]

Really well organised and inspiring for the children – thank you. Lots of different activities that were well thought out.

[Priors Field Primary, Kenilworth]