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Curriculum focused visits

Browse our curriculum focused visit options

Our bespoke visit days are designed to give your class a rich and rewarding experience rooted in the national curriculum, shaped by the unique resources of Gainsborough’s House. Whether you’re exploring significant local figures, delving into the eighteenth century, building creative confidence, or preparing for A-Level exams, these full-day sessions are tailored to your learning goals.

Each visit combines thoughtful discussion, hands-on activity, and object-based learning across our historic site. Carefully developed to support a range of Key Stages and subject areas, these days offer an inspiring change of pace from the classroom—designed to spark your students’ curiosity. Please note all pricing is exclusive of VAT.

Options include:

  • Key Stage 1 History
  • Key Stage 3 History & English
  • Key Stages 1–5 Art & Design
  • Key Stage 5 History of Art

Please email learning@gainsborough.org if you are thinking about booking a bespoke visit or to discuss how we can work with your school.

KS1 History: Significant people, places & events in Sudbury

Fully day (10am–2.15pm, with 45 mins for lunch)

Deepen your class’s engagement with the life of Thomas Gainsborough through a day at Gainsborough’s House. In addition to exploring Thomas Gainsborough and Sudbury, students will explore how to understand images through close looking, describing, and working together.

Why visit?

  • Bring Thomas Gainsborough’s life and work alive through object based, site-specific learning
  • Spark creativity with an art workshop responding to the work of Thomas Gainsborough

Links to Key Stage 1 History curriculum:

  • Exploring how people’s lives have shaped the nation.
  • Using methods of historical enquiry including how evidence is used.
  • Gaining historical perspective by placing knowledge into different contexts, and understanding the connections between the local, regional, national and international.

£250+ for class between 12–30 students (classes less than 12 and additional students charged at £7.50+ per student, max. 62 students)

Book bespoke visit

KS3 History & English: Ways of Looking

Full day (10am–2.15pm, with 45 mins for lunch)

This cross-curricular experience will combine a half day of eighteenth-century history with a half day writing workshop, focusing on the Political power, industry and empire: Britain, 1745–1901 module for History and the requirement for both non-fiction and creative writing for English. Students will also reflect on how different disciplines approach historic objects.

Why visit?

  • Bring history alive through object based, site-specific learning
  • Explore changing relationships to nature, agriculture, and industry through complex images
  • Be inspired by our art collection to create non-fiction and imaginative writing on themes such as nature and identities.
  • Introduce students to interdisciplinarity through the lenses of an historian and a writer.

Links to Key Stage 3 History curriculum:

  • Exploring Britain as the first industrial nation; understanding how people’s lives have shaped the nation; framing historically-valid questions and using evidence to support ideas.

Links to Key Stage 3 English curriculum:

  • Writing clearly and accurately; adapting their language for a range of purposes and audiences, including stories, poetry, and non-narrative essays.

£250+ for class between 12–30 students (classes less than 12 and additional students charged at £7.50+ per student, max. 62 students)

Book bespoke visit

KS1–5 Art & Design

Fully day (10am–2.15pm, with 45 mins for lunch)

Expand your class’s exploration of their current Art & Design Key Stage 1-3 topic, GCSE or A-Level theme with a visit to Gainsborough’s House and a creative workshop led by our expert in-house team.

Why visit?

  • Make work on-site in response to our permanent and temporary displays.
  • Interactive learning on the techniques, processes, and contexts behind major historical and contemporary artists.
  • Access to our facilities – Camera Obscura, Print Workshop, contemporary galleries, and wide range of artistic equipment.

Links to curriculum and exam specifications:

  • Producing creative work in a professional artist’s space.
  • Evaluating and analysing creative works, including practicing subject specific language.
  • Learning about the work of historic and contemporary artists with links to their own work.
  • Creative experimentation through the introduction of new materials and techniques.

£250+ for class between 12–30 students (classes less than 12 and additional students charged at £7.50+ per student, max. 62 students)

Book bespoke visit

KS5 History of Art: Pearson Edexcel Themes & Visual Analysis Paper

Full day (10am–2.15pm, with 45 mins for lunch)

Join us for an in-depth study day focusing on the Nature and/or Identities themes of the Pearson Edexcel A level specification. Using the portraiture and landscapes of Thomas Gainsborough as a starting point, we will explore concepts and contexts in Nature and Identities over time, linking our discussion to your case studies.

Why visit?

  • Interactive gallery learning on the historical development of the Nature and Identity themes.
  • Explore a ‘big picture’ overview of the themes.
  • Unseen visual analysis of painting, sculpture, and architecture.

Links to the Pearson Edexcel specification:

  • Exploring concepts and contexts relevant to the Nature and Identities themes.
  • Practicing key exam skills such as forming critical judgements and considering a theme across multiple periods and locations.
  • Analysing materials & techniques, patronage, and display and their impacts on meaning.

£250+ for class between 12–30 students (classes less than 12 and additional students charged at £7.50+ per student, max. 62 students)

Book bespoke visit