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The rise and fall of thomas wolsey

about this session

Key stage 5 | Subject: History | Topics: Tudors | Session type: Depth study

Explore and deconstruct the key factors that contributed to Thomas Wolsey’s spectacular fall from the highest echelons of power.

In this session, students will use the remaining traces of Wolsey’s palace, alongside contemporary opinions of Wolsey, to analyse how the Cardinal presented himself and his position and his relationship with King Henry VIII.

Through the palace he created, students will evaluate why Wolsey was able to rise to such a high level of power within Tudor England, and why ultimately he fell from grace. 

Exam board links

This session has been designed to complement the study of the Early Tudors, and particularly the following exam boards: 

  • AQA,1C: The Tudors: England, 1485–1603, Part One. 
  • Edexcel,1B: England, 1509–1603: authority, nation and religion. 
  • OCR A, Y106: England, 1485–1558: the Early Tudors. 
  • 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. 

Booking Information

Availability
Wednesday - Friday
10.30, 13.00

This session is also available on our Schools only Tuesdays:

2024

Tuesday 24 September
Tuesday 22 October
Tuesday 26 November   

2025

Tuesday 25 February
Tuesday 25 March
Tuesday 20 May
Tuesday 8 July   


Duration
90 minutes

Capacity
Up to 25 students

Price
£114 per session plus £4.10 per student admission

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Learning Resources

Preview image of learning resource

Hampton Court Palace Significant People Biographies and Key Facts

Download short editable biographies of significant people at Hampton Court Palace. Use key facts, activities and historic sources to explore who lived and worked at this historic palace.