Falkland Palace Teacher’s information Falkland Palace was a country residence of the Stewart kings and queens. The palace was used as a lodge when the royal family hunted deer and wild boar in the forests of Fife. Mary, Queen of Scots, spent some of the happiest days of her life here ‘playing the country girl in the woods and parks’. Built between 1501 and 1541 by James IV and James V, Falkland Palace replaced earlier castle and palace buildings dating from the 12th century. The roofed south range contains the Chapel Royal, and the East Range contains the King’s and Queen’s rooms, both restored by the Trust with period features, reproduction 16th-century furnishings, painted ceilings and royal arms. Within the grounds is the original Royal tennis court, the oldest in Britain, built in 1539. The garden, designed and built by Percy Cane between 1947 and 1952, contains herbaceous borders enclosing an attractive wide lawn with many varieties of shrubs and trees and a small herb garden. The palace still belongs to Her Majesty the Queen but is maintained and managed by The Trust in its role as Deputy Keeper. A school visit to Falkland Palace offers excellent opportunities for cross-curricular work and engaging with the Curriculum for Excellence: • An exciting Living History programme, based on the visits of Mary Queen of Scots to Falkland Palace around 1565, led by NTS staff: - a tour of the palace when your pupils will meet ‘Mary Queen of Scots’. - costumes and role play (within the palace tour). - followed by an opportunity to explore the gardens and real tennis court (teacher led). • Standard visit (teacher-led): your pupils visit the Palace and gardens. Teacher-led visits must also be booked, for safety reasons, and to allow your pupils access the Palace. • Whether booking an NTS-staff or teacher led programme, please ensure that your pupils are supervised at all times within the Palace and the gardens. Resources for schools: • Education Room – please book for exclusive use of your class during their visit. • Falkland Palace resource pack (can be downloaded free from the NTS Learn website). • Mary Queen of Scots resource pack (can be downloaded free from the NTS Learn website). • Illustrated guide book (for sale at Falkland Palace and at the Trust’s online shop). • Burgh Tour sheet (for teacher-led tours of Falkland, Living History programme only). • CD of medieval dance music available for loan (Living History programme only). • Virtual Visit of Falkland Palace (on the NTS Learn website). Planning your class visit: • To book: please contact Falkland Palace on 0844 493 2186 to make a booking. • Book well in advance to avoid disappointment. • Falkland Palace is open for educational visits from 1 March – 31 October, Monday – Friday. For more information, visit www.nts.org.uk/Learn The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410 and depends for its support on the subscriptions of its members, donations and legacies. Copyright © 2011 the National Trust for Scotland. 1 Falkland Palace Teacher’s information Planning your class visit (continued): • Maximum class size: 35 with a ratio of 1 teacher/adult to 10 pupils. Larger groups by prior arrangement only. • Access: We regret that there is no access to the palace for wheelchair users, and, because of the number of steps within this historic building, there is limited access for visitors with mobility impairment. There is a book of high quality photos of the Palace (for loan on the day) for anyone who is unable to visit the rooms. (There is also a virtual visit of Falkland Palace on the NTS Learn website). • Falkland Palace is a very old building with many steps and low lighting. We want to ensure that all your pupils have an enjoyable visit so, if your pupils have extra requirements, please do contact us to discuss them. We will do our utmost to accommodate you. • Toilets: These are located in the Palace garden. There are accessible toilets within the free car park, a short distance (few minutes) from the Palace – Palace staff will provide directions. • Refreshments: There are no refreshments for sale at Falkland Palace. Pupils are welcome to bring packed lunches for a picnic in the grounds, or in the Education Room if it is wet. • The site has been risk assessed. Teachers are expected to prepare their own RA for the visit. • There is more information about planning a visit to a Trust site on the NTS Learn website: www.nts.org.uk/Learn/schools_plan.php • For more information about Falkland Palace, please go to our web pages: www.nts.org.uk/Property/Falkland-Palace-Garden/ Charges: Living History Programme: • £2.50 per pupil for schools with NTS educational membership. • £4.50 per pupil for schools without NTS educational membership. Standard visit (no living history): • There is no admission charge for schools with NTS educational membership. • Non-members are welcome but there is an admission charge of £2 per pupil. • Accompanying adults are admitted free. • All class teachers are encouraged to make a free preparatory visit to the site. • For Educational Membership: please apply to Falkland Palace – or go to the NTS Learn website: www.nts.org.uk/Learn/schools_membership.php During your class visit: • During the Living History programme, school groups will be led by NTS guides in the Palace. Please note that school groups are not guide led during standard visits. • Burgh Tours (around Falkland) are teacher led. • Living History programme – begins at 10am and last for approximately 2 hours, depending on class size. Standard visits to the Palace may be made from 11am onwards. • Teachers are responsible for pupils and their behaviour. • Pupils do not need to bring any materials for their visit. • We regret that you cannot take photographs in the Palace, but the teacher may take one class photo in the Chapel during the Living History session. Photos may be taken outside. • Pupils are welcome to visit the shop, in small groups and with teacher supervision. • On arrival: Your pupils will be met at the Palace gate by a guide who will lead them to the Education Room. • The children may leave their coats and bags before beginning the palace tour. For more information, visit www.nts.org.uk/Learn The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410 and depends for its support on the subscriptions of its members, donations and legacies. Copyright © 2011 the National Trust for Scotland. 2 Falkland Palace Teacher’s information During your class visit (continued): • Please ensure that you ARRIVE ON TIME - otherwise we cannot guarantee that your pupils will be able to participate in the full living history programme (since the guides have other duties after 12 noon). • Getting to Falkland: Falkland Palace is on the A912, 10 miles from junction 8 of the M90, and 11 miles north of Kirkcaldy. • Parking arrangements: Pupils may be dropped off at the Palace gates and there is a car/coach park in Falkland (turn up Back Wynd next to the Bank of Scotland and the car park is on the left). For more information and to make a booking please contact Falkland Palace: The Head Guide, Falkland Palace & Garden, Falkland, Cupar, Fife KY15 7BU Telephone : 0844 493 2186 Email : falklandpalace&[email protected] For more information, visit www.nts.org.uk/Learn The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty is a charity registered in Scotland, Charity Number SC 007410 and depends for its support on the subscriptions of its members, donations and legacies. Copyright © 2011 the National Trust for Scotland. 3 .