Keystage 2

Bradford 2025 – Living Timeline Experience – From the Broad – Ford to Bradford

At the heart of this educational experience for schools is an interactive guided tour of the Cathedral, making use of authentic period costumes, the building and artefacts, to tell the story of the Cathedral and Bradford itself. The Cathedral Living Timeline helps children to make sense of the past, exploring periods that range from Saxon times, to Victorian Bradford, through to the twenty first century

A Sacred Space – A Religious Trail

This is a Cathedral discovery trail featuring an exploration of key features that are connected to the practice and expression of the Christian faith e.g.  the font (baptism), the nave (people at worship), the lectern and pulpit (the Bible), the chancel (music in worship), the cathedra (the bishopric), the sanctuary  (Holy Communion). The focus is on Christianity, but the participants are tasked with using their ‘detective’ skills to find out about a Christian place of worship and compare this with other places of worship in the city, interpreting what they discover and identifying similarities and differences between religions.

Windows on Faith

The Cathedral features an amazing collection of stained glass windows, which provide an insight into the origins of Christian belief and practice. They are one way in which Christians demonstrate what they hold to be sacred and special. They tell the story of the life of Jesus, the early Church, and also the saints of the British Isles, including those of particular significant female saints. Some of the windows link to special times of remembrance and commemoration in the Christian calendar.

Signs and Symbols

This workshop explores signs and symbols, dangerous times and secret messages. It also explores the symbols and colours of the Church’s Year as found in objects and places in the building and in the robes and vestments worn by the clergy and the Bishop.

World War I and the Memorial Bells

In this workshop participants will find out about the history of bells in the Cathedral and compare the use of bells, to the use of call and response in other religious traditions.   They will use artefacts, documents and exhibition materials to find out about the World   War I Memorial Bells and the story of Bradford bell ringer Joe Hardcastle (pictured bottom right above). They will use role play and exposition to retell the story of the Bells to others.

The Key to the Cathedral Trail (Lower Key Stage 2)

This involves a hunt for lost treasure. The children are tasked with solving clues and follow a ‘key’ trail that explores the Cathedral’s main features. They also take part in an associated craft activity. All participants receive their own personal key to the Cathedral as a reminder that the door to Bradford Cathedral is open to all.

Reflection and Creative Response

The Cathedral Education Team are happy to facilitate teacher led opportunities for quiet, reflective time to enable the experience of awe, wonder and mystery in this special and unique Christian place of worship. Likewise it is possible to arrange appropriate teacher led sessions, that encourage participants to respond in a range of creative ways to the Cathedral experience. 

Bespoke Sessions

If possible we encourage schools to choose from the learning sessions and workshops outlined above. However should group leaders have particular content that they would like the Education Team to cover, please make this clear at the time of booking and whenever possible we will endeavour to meet your needs.