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'The Tudors at Hampton Court Palace'

A-level study day

A-level study day

Wednesday 5 March 2025 10am-3pm

This event is now fully booked

Join us for a deep-dive study day on the Tudors. Aimed at Year 12-13 historians, studying any Tudors A-level exam board specification, this is a unique opportunity to discover more about the Tudor monarchs who resided here and the key events that took place at Hampton Court Palace between 1520 and 1603. 

Developed in consultation with teachers and students, the day will consist of a key-note lecture by Tracy Borman, Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, presenter-led tours of the Tudor apartments, and object handling sessions led by our curators. There will also be a chance to self-explore the Tudor kitchens, the special exhibition: ‘The Tudor World in the Wolsey Rooms’, and the Palace gardens. 

Learning objectives

To immerse students in the place and spaces where key historical events took place, thereby inspiring curiosity, empathy and passion for the period. 

To enrich student knowledge and understanding of key themes in Tudor history including: 

  • The changing power of the monarchy and the impact of age and gender 
  • The role of key individuals and ideas in bringing about change
  • The causes and consequence of events
  • Similarities and differences across the period
  • The interplay of religious, social, political and economic factors/issues
  • The value and limitations of historical sites, objects and documents as evidence 

Study day content

Your students will hear a key-note lecture on ‘The Tudors at Hampton Court Palace’ and take part in an object handling session, exploring ‘King Henry VIII: Man and Myth’. They will also go on a one hour presenter-led tour of the Tudor apartments. When booking, you will be asked to choose one of the following tour topics:

Key Stage 4 Session being led by a History Riot presenter
Detail of a stained-glass window showing the figure of Cardinal Wolsey

The Rise and Fall of Cardinal Wolsey

What do the remaining traces of Wolsey’s palace at Hampton Court tell us about how he wanted to present himself? Alongside contemporary opinions of Wolsey, students will examine the buildings, to evaluate why the son of an Ipswich butcher was able to rise to such a high level of power within Tudor England, and why ultimately, he fell from grace. 

Detail of the stained-glass in the west window showing a likeness of King Henry VIII in the Great Hall. The glass was installed in 1845 to the designs of Thomas Willement.

The Driving Force of the Reformation

True believer or fickle opportunist? Can the buildings of Hampton Court Palace offer insight into the choices and influences of King Henry VIII? In this tour students will analyse Henry’s personal faith, the rollercoaster of shifting dogma and the people who held sway over the King's decisions. 

Painting of Queen Elizabeth I

Mid-tudor crisis

Was there a mid-Tudor crisis? Exploring the palace buildings, alongside contemporary sources, students will evaluate the stability of the monarchy and the extent of the religious turbulence and social discontent under King Edward VI, Queen Mary I and Queen Elizabeth I. 

Outline of the day (may be subject to change)

10.00 - Arrival and sign in at the Garden Room 

10.30 - Welcome briefing 

10.40 - Key-Note lecture - ‘The Tudors at Hampton Court’, Tracy Borman. 

11.50 - Activity 1 – Presenter-led tour or object handling session. 

13.00 - Lunch time and free time to explore the Palace. 

Some exam board history advisers will be on hand to answer teacher questions in a drop-in surgery. 

13.45 - Garden Room for plenary session 

14.00 - Activity 2 - presenter-led tour or object handling session. 

15.00 - End. Free time to explore the Palace until closing. 

We will send confirmation of each school’s itinerary for the day, to the Group Leader in advance of the Study Day.

Exam board links

  • AQA,1C: The Tudors: England, 1485–1603, Part One and Part Two. 
  • AQA, 2D: Religious conflict and the Church in England, c1529–c1570. 
  • Pearson Edexcel,1B: England, 1509–1603: authority, nation and religion. 
  • Pearson Edexcel, Option 31: Rebellion and disorder under the Tudors, 1485-1603. 
  • OCR A, Y106: England, 1485–1558: the Early Tudors (Enquiry topic: Mid Tudor Crises 1547–1558). 
  • OCR A, Y107: England 1547–1603: The Later Tudors (Enquiry topic: Mid Tudor Crises 1547–1558). 
  • WJEC, Unit 1, period study (AS): Government, rebellion and society in Wales and England, c.1485-1603. 
  • WJEC, Unit 2, depth study (AS): The Mid Tudor Crisis, Problems, threats and challenges, c.1529-1553. 
  • WJEC, Unit 3, breadth study (A2): Poverty, protest and rebellion in Wales and England, c.1485-1603. 
  • WJEC, Unit 4, depth study (A2): The Mid Tudor Crisis in Wales and England c.1529-1570, Part 2: Challenges facing Mary and Elizabeth c.1553-1570. 

Booking Information

This event is now fully booked

Spaces are limited to 200 people.  

Please be considerate with booking places and let us know as soon as possible if you are unable to attend or do not require your full allocation.  

When booking, you will be asked to select your chosen tour and though we will do our best to accommodate your choice, we cannot give a guarantee. 

For tours and object handling sessions, students will be in put into groups of up to 30. Therefore, your students may be asked to join a group with students from other schools and/or your group may be split up. 

Price   
This event is a pilot and therefore, free of charge. However, as spaces are strictly limited, no shows on the day will be charged at £10 per person. 

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