Year 7 Humanities Visit to Lancaster Castle and Priory - 18th June 2025
On Wednesday 18th June, Year 7 pupils from forms B, C and H enjoyed an enriching joint Humanities trip to Lancaster Castle and the nearby Priory. With the weather just as we’d hoped - dry, bright, and comfortably warm - it was the perfect setting for a day of immersive learning beyond the classroom. The day began with a guided tour of Lancaster Castle, led by an external tour guide who brought centuries of history to life. Pupils explored the varied roles the castle has played over time, from a royal fortress to a prison. With great enthusiasm, they applied what they had learned in class to the real-life structure, identifying different architectural features that have developed across historical periods. It was a unique opportunity to see textbook knowledge in stone, and pupils made thoughtful connections between the building’s changing styles and its evolving purpose.
Next, the focus turned to Religious Studies as pupils made their way to the Priory. Here, members of the church community welcomed the group and gave insightful explanations of the building’s features and their religious significance. Pupils were encouraged to ask questions and reflect on how different faith communities worship, bringing to life their learning about religion and community in a meaningful and respectful way.
The Geography element of the trip provided a hands-on experience as pupils worked in teams around the castle grounds. Using engineers’ ranging poles and clinometers, they measured the gradient of the slopes, developing their fieldwork skills and learning how to gather and interpret geographical data. This practical task encouraged collaboration, problem-solving and active learning - all key skills in Geography.
Throughout the day, pupils were a credit to the school. Their behaviour was exemplary, and their eagerness to participate and engage made the experience enjoyable for all involved. Staff and guides alike commented on how polite, curious and focused they were during each activity.
It was a truly fantastic day - one that demonstrated how History, RS and Geography come together to shape our understanding of the world around us. We are already looking forward to running the same visit again with the remaining Year 7 groups next week, and we’ll be putting in another request for that perfect weather!
Mrs Wortley
