Schools around the country have the exciting chance to visit the new Parliamentary Education Centre, which offers engaging learning experiences for pupils of all ages. The Centre includes parliament themed teaching rooms and augmented reality experiences, using immersive technology to create a unique learning experience. Opened by Professor Brian Cox in 2015, the Centre is a world-class education facility that engages young people with the rich history and reality of Parliament. The aim is to create anticipation in the minds of students around the topic of modern democracy and inspire them around the themes of governance and history. The Centre hopes to welcome 100,000 students to parliament every year.
A day out at the Centre will engage, inspire and educate. Each room is themed to allow the exploration of different elements of government. The four spaces encompass and are entitled, Commons, Lords, Monarchy, and My Parliament. In the learning spaces augmented reality introduces the children to figures of the past. Sir Winston Churchill provides a tour of the Commons, while portraits come to life in the Monarchy room. The immersive discovery space is a sensory, interactive room that tutors visitors through the use of 360° projection technology; experience key moments in parliamentary history such as the 1908 suffragettes protest and explore virtual recreations of the House of Commons and House of Lords chambers. There are also additional events that you can take part in with your class, including a law and debating tour workshop for KS2-5, or for KS1 a state opening of parliament tour and workshop.
If you are interested in visiting in the summer term 2017 between Tuesday 18th April and Friday 21st July, telephone booking will open on Friday 13th January at 8.00am. Call 020 7219 4496. Also find out more at the Centre site and on twitter, #ParlEdCentre. There is also an opportunity to apply for a travel subsidiary to help with the cost of bringing a school trip to London, find out more here.
Handsam can help you facilitate a trip to the big smoke with our advice on London and walking in cities. Why not also draw on a subject specific guidance to help tailor learning on trips and utilise our trip planning system?
