CPD Days
As part of Vanbrugh300, we offered a series of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) days designed to support teachers in making the most of their school visits and integrating creative learning into the classroom.
Each CPD day began with a guided tour of the historic site.
The day then provided a toolkit of creative teaching approaches and practical techniques that could be applied across the whole curriculum. Teachers were introduced to the pre- and post-visit lesson materials which employ many of these creative learning techniques. Participants stepped into the role of learners, experiencing the sessions as their pupils would, gaining confidence in delivering the content back in school.
Dates of the CPD days included:
Seaton Delaval Hall - Monday 9th February
Blenheim Palace - Friday 27 February
Castle Howard - Monday 18 May
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Vanbrugh300 Site Visits
While the precise structure of each school visit varied slightly between sites, most visits included a combination of guided exploration of the site and hands-on design activities inspired by Sir John Vanbrugh’s architecture.
Guided Site Tour (45–60 minutes)
Each visit included a tour of the heritage site, adapted specifically for children and young people. These tours placed a special focus on Vanbrugh’s work and legacy, helping pupils understand the buildings through engaging storytelling and observation.
At Castle Howard, where a schools programme is in development, a new teacher-led tour and accompanying pupil worksheets were created. These resources continue to support school and family learning beyond the life of the project.
Teacher-Led Activity
Included in the Teachers’ Resource pack was a worksheet activity that could be used flexibly during the site visit. This enabled pupils to explore key features of the site, record observations, and gather inspiration that they could later use in both their workshop during their site visit and in the follow-up classroom activities back at school.
Hands-On Design Workshop (60 minutes)
Pupils took part in a one-hour practical design workshop inspired by Vanbrugh’s architecture and theatrical imagination. Drawing on the shapes, features, and visual language of the buildings they explored, pupils designed their own wearable “Vanbrugh-inspired” creations.
Key Stage 1 workshops focused on recognising and using 2D shapes.
Key Stage 2 workshops explored 2D shapes and 3D forms, structure, and architectural design features.
These workshops aimed to:
- Introduce the idea of influence in architecture and design
- Explore creative processes across architecture and theatre
- Develop understanding of structure and form through practical making
- Consolidate learning about Vanbrugh and the site through creative activity
Castle Howard: Play Shapes
For school groups who visited Castle Howard, instead of a design workshop students had the opportunity to build their own Vanbrugh-inspired structures with a bespoke set of Play Shapes created by artist Pippa Hale and inspired by the design of the site. These also formed the basis of family activities during the Vanbrugh weekend, offering a playful and hands-on way to explore architectural form and design.
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