Historic Royal Palaces’ award-winning schools programme is renowned for its use of costumed presenters who transport pupils into the past, allowing them to engage with history in a way that they could never encounter so powerfully in the classroom. Our workshops span a wide array of subjects, offering students unique opportunities to discover their passions.
To ensure that these experiences are accessible to all, we heavily subsidise the programme through our Access Fund. The Access Fund provides free entry to our palaces and covers travel costs for students who would otherwise be unable to visit. Schools consistently tell us that travel costs are one of the biggest barriers to access, which is why this year we are increasing the value of travel bursaries and introducing new support specifically for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities schools within London.
In 2023, the Access Fund was supported by a grant from Movement for Good, which enabled over 9,000 pupils from 166 schools in areas of high deprivation across the UK to visit our palaces, many for the first time. We are thrilled to receive a continuation grant which will support the growth of the programme as we aim to reach 12,000 pupils in the coming year.
