Sensing the Archives

How do historians work out what happened in the past?

‘Sensing the Archives’ is our education workshop programme for students who are blind or visually impaired, or who for any other reasons would prefer to explore documents using senses other than sight. The sessions take place at The National Archives in Kew.

Read about one school’s experience with the workshop – New College Worcester

The workshops make use of specially designed 3D-printed tactile versions of documents from our collection, for example, a medieval map or a wage slip for Tudor courtier John Blanke. Students will also use tactile props and audio to explore the mysteries behind their documents. Finally, students will get to touch special original documents from our collection that have also been touched by important figures from the past.

All worksheets will be provided as large print and/or Braille (grade 1 or 2) according to student needs.

Key Stage 1-2

Choose between a session focusing on Significant Women or a session focusing on the Great Fire of London. Both sessions include dynamic group work and storytelling. Students get to explore original documents through very simplified touch-based formats.

Key Stage 2-3

Students are introduced to a range of documents from our collection. They will be supported in developing skills of source analysis and how to examine evidence for the past. Students will be divided into groups and become experts on a document throughout the workshop. They will explore their documents through 3D-printed tactile images as well as sensory and audio props, as well as touch original documents. They will also learn about the purpose of an archive and the work of the archivist.

Key Stage 4-5

Students are similarly introduced to a range of documents from our collection, developing deeper skills in source analysis and understanding the nature of evidence. They will also learn about the purpose of an archive and the work of the archivist. A themed session looking at Elizabeth I can also be arranged.

Timings

The workshop can be booked as a 2-hour session or as a full day. The full day includes a touch tour where students get to go behind the scenes of our repositories and explore how we store our archives. The workshop will then take place in the afternoon after a lunch break. Timings can be adjusted according to your needs. A full schedule will be provided before the day so that teachers and students will feel prepared.

Bursary

A limited amount of funding will be available to schools booking this workshop on a first-come first-serve basis to cover travel and teacher cover, subject to availability. Please enquire when booking. The workshop and visit are free to all UK schools.

Bursaries are available for sessions booked from now until 31 July 2027. If a bursary is awarded funds will be transferred a maximum of three months before your visit.

‘Sensing the Archives’ is supported by the Friends of The National Archives and The National Archives Trust, with the Trust’s support made possible through the generosity of the Powell Family Foundation, the Edith Murphy Foundation and the Spectacle Makers’ Charity.