Historic Scotland
5000 years of history inspires learning beyond the classroom!
What better way to discover Scotland’s past and provide an inspirational context for active learning than free educational visits to over 300 historic sites in the care of Historic Scotland.
Free educational visits and travel subsidy
From prehistoric sites to castles, abbeys and industrial buildings, Historic Scotland’s free educational visits scheme is open to schools all year round. The exceptions are Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle, where there is an entry charge from May to August, inclusive.
Teachers can also apply for a travel subsidy to provide financial assistance with transportation costs. The subsidy is available all year round for all sites apart from Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle where application can only be made for visits between September and April inclusive.
Free preparatory support materials
The Education team’s 'Investigating Historic Sites' provides a menu of free educational resources designed to help you get the most out of your site visit. They can be used to gather historical background information and activity ideas to support a specific theme or ‘take a guided tour’ of a specific site. There are even hazard information sheets for each site which can help you prepare your risk assessment.
Schools Activity Programmes
Historic Scotland sites provide wonderfully atmospheric and unique learning environments. The programmes for early years, primary and secondary schools are packed with an exciting variety of participative learning opportunities at sites all over Scotland, devised with the four capacities of the Curriculum for Excellence in mind.
The Education team strive to be as flexible as possible in terms of content and timing to meet the needs of teachers. Popular activities include the Junior Guide tours at Claypotts Castle, Doune Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Stanley Mills, where P6/7 pupils from local primary schools deliver costumed tours of ‘their’ historic site for other visiting primary school groups.
For more information on available activities, booking details and costs, download Historic Scotland's two schools' programmes:
PDF file: Historic Scotland schools programme 2009-2010 (EY and Primary) (4.4 MB)Contact information
To find out more about Historic Scotland’s education service, contact the Education team on 0131 668 8793 / 8736 or email HSeducation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Image © Crown Copyright reproduced courtesy of Historic Scotland.