Learn and discover

Schools education visits and resources

The museum offers schools sessions for children in Key Stage 1 and above that provide support for many programmes of study including: history, english, geography, drama and law. These sessions are designed to contribute to OFSTED's spiritual, moral, social and cultural requirements using archives, museum collections and stories from people beyond the castle walls.

Schools sessions are available on Mondays from 10am and subject to availability throughout the rest of the week.

The museum also offers a series of talks, tours and outreach sessions for schools and groups, along with opportunities for self guided visits.

Please telephone the museum on 01628 685686 for more information or email museum@rbwm.gov.uk.

Free teaching resources :  Timelines and World War 1

Our WWI themed resources have a local focus and could support a class-based local history project.

School visits

School session : 'Court in the Act' - Key Stage 2

This two hour local history session will help students find out about the past in the Royal Borough through:

  • Handling museum objects. 
  • Using original court records for evidence.
  • Developing literacy and persuasive language skills. 
  • Re-enacting a real court case. 
  • Working in small groups with allocated roles.

This session is held in the museum and The Guildhall.
Two hours. Maximum 30 students per session.
Cost per session: £90.

School session : 'Windsor Through Time'  - Key Stage 1 and up

This two hour object based session focuses on the history of the local area and some of the town's residents by:

  • Handling museum objects.
  • Developing literacy skills through group based discussion.  
  • Using maps to build awareness of the local area.  
  • Comparing and contrasting the past with the present.

This session is held in the Museum and Guildhall.
Two hours. Maximum 30 students per session.
Cost per session: £90.

School session : Oral History  - Key Stage 2 and up

A three week course of workshops working with students preparing and assisting them to conduct and record interviews with people related to their topic focus.

Sessions will cover:

  • Researching the past.   
  • Learning interview techniques and writing questions.   
  • Using audio equipment to record interviews.   
  • Editing and exhibiting interview clips.

This is an outreach programme and workshops will take place at your school or at another preferred location.
Cost per session: Variable (minimum three sessions at £50 per session).

We also work with the Outreach team as part of the Libraries and Resident Service to deliver bespoke visits and resources. For more information on your school needs and bookings please contact us by email at museum@rbwm.gov.uk or call 01628 685686.

Resources - Loans boxes for hands on learning

We contribute to the Loan Box service from Reading Museum

  • Boxes provide real objects for children to feel and examine.
  • Chosen objects are packaged into over 1,500 loan boxes, together with teaching material.
  • Visit their Loans Online site to browse or book loan boxes.
  • Sessions are taught in the galleries at Reading Museum.
  • Sessions can be taught in the classroom, led by trained museum staff.

Loan boxes containing objects from Windsor & Royal Borough Museum include:

  • 19th Century; Maidenhead's Victorian Industries (H330), Weights and Measures (H333).
  • 20th Century; World War II (H331 and H332) and 1950s Home Life (H334).
  • Windsor Great Park (H335), Woodworking (H336), Saxon Settlement (H337).
  • Windsor and the Railway (H338), Windsor Castle (H339).

For access to the Borough's Loan boxes please contact:

Reading Museum and Town Hall
Blagrave Street, Reading, RG1 1QH

0118 937 3400
Website : Reading Museum

Windsor and Royal Borough Museum : Contact details

For further information, please contact us by:

Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
The Guildhall, High Street
Windsor SL4 1LR

Website: http://windsormuseum.org.uk/

Telephone: 01628 685686