Back to school with York Minster’s Learning Team

York Minster’s Learning Team are gearing up to welcome young people to the cathedral for the new school year with brand-new, vibrant activities

The programme includes significant financial support for schools, with bursaries towards travel costs, free self-led visits for schools from a YO postcode, and funded places in the National Schools Singing Programme. 

Schools can engage in workshops and guided tours, or self-guided visits around the cathedral, created to meet curriculum needs, whilst also being fun and engaging. York Minster’s experienced team of heritage and religious education specialists can take pupils on a medieval pilgrimage, help them become artists and poets, or even put a Victorian arsonist on trial.

Lisa Power, Head of Events and Participation at York Minster, said: “I am very aware that families and schools are currently under financial pressure. York Minster is such a remarkable place where children can create memories that last a lifetime. We have worked hard to create accessible opportunities to enable as many children as possible to experience its wonders.

“A self-guided visit to the cathedral is free for schools from a YO postcode. York residents can visit the Minster for free and there is no charge for children under 17 to visit with an accompanying adult from outside of York. We have an array of trails and activities that help children and young people explore this incredible site throughout the year.

“From speaking with schools, I know that financial challenges can be a barrier when organising trips, especially around transport. That is why we have teamed up with Hyundai’s Great British School Trip. Upon booking, schools are able to apply for a bursary to support travel costs.”

At the beginning of 2024, York Minster piloted a new music outreach programme with three York Primary Schools, in tandem with the National Schools Singing Programme. The syllabus and structure of the programme enables diverse communities to engage with choral and church music of the highest standard. Participating schools have performed inside the cathedral and have enriched their own musical traditions through this scheme.

York Minster can offer a free term to two more York based schools due to generous funding from the York Music Hub; very favourable rates are available for the rest of the school year.

On Saturday 7 September the cathedral will host the first of its ‘Minster Mashups’, a fun, relaxed service for families. The first service will mark the start of the school year and children are encouraged to bring their school bags to be blessed. Other Minster Mashups will be themed around Harvest Festival and the Christmas Tree Festival light switch-on.

Commenting on the broad range of activities at the Minster, Lisa Power said: “Seeing children and young people experience and participate in worship at York Minster is wonderful part of my job. I hope families feel welcome to attend the Minster Mashup this autumn and enjoy an inclusive, ebullient type of worship.

“A personal highlight for me this year has been hearing local primary school children sing at our lunchtime eucharists through the National Schools Singing Programme. The children participating in the scheme have been fantastic and it’s a way for local pupils and their communities to experience the spiritual and cultural richness of the cathedral. We are very grateful to have received funding from the York Music Hub to cover a free term of musical tuition and have space for two more schools from York to join the scheme”.

York Minster also has a range of trails and activities that help children and young people explore this incredible site throughout the year, all included in the cost of a general admission ticket.