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The National Archives Education Service

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The National Archives Education Service

The National Archives Education Service page is aimed at teachers and educators. See website for queries & bookings.

Providing free
document based resources & taught sessions from KS1 up to A level. The Education Service provides free online resources and taught sessions, supporting the National Curriculum for history from key stage 1 up to A-level. Visit our website to access the full range of our resources, from Domesday to Britain in the 1960s, and find out about more about our schools programme, including n

ew professional development opportunities for teachers. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/

All taught sessions and online resources are based around an enquiry; students investigate the past through original documents, to reach their own conclusions based on the evidence. They work with documents in their raw state from a letter penned by Catherine Howard confessing her love for Thomas Culpepper, to a secret Foreign Office memo analysing Khrushchev's attitude to Berlin in 1961. This approach encourages students to ask questions, think critically and reflect on the way in which historians use evidence to find out about the past.

03/09/2026

🎉 Bursary applications open 9 September! 🎉

Could your pupils benefit from an unforgettable visit to The National Archives?

We're delighted to announce the return of our bursary scheme. Your school could be eligible for up to £1,000 to support a visit to The National Archives, helping more students engage with history through original records and hands-on learning experiences.

📅 Applications open: 9 September 2026
⏰ Applications close: 30 September 2026

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to be inspired by our collection of original documents.

Find out more about the bursary process, eligibility criteria and submit your application from 9 September using the following link:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/teachers/what-we-offer/the-national-archives-education-bursary-scheme/

02/09/2026

On this day, 2 September 1666: The Great Fire of London

360 years ago today, London was devastated by the Great Fire of London. The fire burned down 300 houses, left 100,000 people homeless and changed London forever.

Book our special live broadcast 'Archives Live: The Great Fire of London', featuring The London Archives and The London Fire Brigade Museum, presented by TV presenter, broadcaster and primary school teacher Michael Underwood:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/archives-live-the-great-fire-of-london/

See our free online lesson resource to explore original documents revealing the story behind the fire:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/fire-of-london/

Image ref: SP 29/171 (95, cover)

31/08/2026

How much do you know about the pioneering Suffragette movement? Take our quiz to find out!

https://natarchives.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_d4CESNH92suclKK

To discover more, book an online or onsite workshop for a class at The National Archives:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/suffragettes/

Explore our free online resources featuring original documents from our collection:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/suffragettes-on-file/
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/cats-and-mice/

Image ref: COPY 1/526 46322

27/08/2026

🔥 Behind the scenes at Archives Live! 🔥

This week Michael Underwood visited The London Fire Brigade Museum, temporarily housed at Croydon Fire Station, to film some special content for our upcoming Archives Live: The Great Fire of London.

Michael explored a fascinating collection of objects linked to the Great Fire, met a firefighter and learned more about the events of 1666 and how firefighting has changed over the centuries.

We can't wait to share the final event with you and your students. Book now to join us on the 5th October for this exciting broadcast!

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/archives-live-the-great-fire-of-london/

26/08/2026

On this day, 26 August 1769: James Cook set sail in HMS Endeavour.

On the first of three voyages of discovery, he carried with him secret instructions from the British Admiralty telling him to search for and claim the Great South Land. His other less secret goals were to record the transit of Venus from Tahiti and record the natural history of the Pacific Ocean and its islands.

To find out more about James Cook’s search for the Great South Land, and his fatal final voyage, see our resources featuring original documents from our collection:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/the-search-for-terra-australis/
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/captain-cook-in-hawaii/

Image ref: MPI 1/93

24/08/2026

Sunday 23 August 2026 marked UNESCO International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

This image from our collection is an 1859 plan of the hold of the barque Isla De Cuba, a ship that was suspected by the Royal Navy of playing a role in the transatlantic slave trade. The diagram shows the hold containing barrels used for ‘rice and farina’, or flour from wheat. Other details about the ship are provided in the key.

To learn more about the history of the slave trade, and see other original documents from our collection, visit our free online resources:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/slavery/
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/bussas-rebellion/

Or book a free educational session for your class:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/resistance-and-rebellion-in-the-caribbean/

Image reference: FO 84/1310

21/08/2026

Back to school. Back to the Archives!

This autumn bring history to life with our curriculum-linked workshops. Using original historical records students can investigate the past, develop critical thinking skills and discover history first hand through our incredible collection of original documents.

Book your workshop now!

Onsite:
https://tinyurl.com/26jy763h

Online:
https://tinyurl.com/nhz939uy

20/08/2026

We are delighted to announce that Michael Underwood will be presenter of our forthcoming 'Archives Live: The Great Fire of London' on the 5th October!

Michael will be guiding us through the story of the fire, looking at collections from The National Archives, The London Archives and talking to The London Fire Brigade about fire safety then and now.

Michael Underwood is a broadcaster and primary school teacher. He spent many years presenting children’s television, including programmes for CBBC and CITV, before moving into education back in 2018. Combining his experience of engaging young audiences on screen with his passion for teaching, he is delighted to be working with The National Archives to bring history to life for children.

Book your tickets to this exciting live event now!

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/archives-live-the-great-fire-of-london/

19/08/2026

Watch our film, Spotlight On… Thomas Becket!

Today we’re rewinding to our Spotlight On film about Thomas Becket, the murdered Archbishop who became a saint. Join Medieval Records Specialist Kathryn Maude as she delves into our collection to explore four fascinating records that give a unique insight into the life, legacy, and infamous death of Thomas Becket.

Watch the film here:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/students/videos/spotlight-on/spotlight-on-thomas-becket/

13/08/2026

On this day, 13 August 1961: the Soviets began building the Berlin Wall.

The wall, built overnight on the orders of Soviet leader Nikita Krushchev, separated Soviet-controlled East Berlin from Western-controlled West Berlin. Many East Germans were leaving for the West by crossing the border in Berlin. It stood for 30 years, before being torn down in a moment that came to symbolise the collapse of the Soviet Union.

To find out more about the Cold War, and discover original documents from our collection, see these resources:

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/cold-war-on-file/
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/cold-war/

Or book one of our free sessions for your class:
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/sessions/coldwar/

Address

The National Archives, Kew
Richmond
TW94DU

Opening Hours

Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/

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