Education Department
Cost for any half day visit – £4
Cost for a full day visit – £5
Timings for the visits are typically:
10.00-12.00pm morning
12.30-2.30pm afternoon
10.30-2.30pm for a full day
Maximum number of pupils/ students for a workshop is 60.
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY
CURRICULUM LINK
CONTENT
Faith, worship and belief
Embark on a tour of Buckfast Abbey, a historic monastery steeped in centuries of tradition. Discover how this sacred place functions today as a living faith community. Learn in an age-appropriate way about the core beliefs of Christianity including: the importance of prayer, beliefs about God and the significance of the sacraments.
Detailed Curriculum Link
-Themed tour of the Abbey Church.
-Monastic Way Exhibition or Education –Centre activity session
-Question and answer session with a monk can be arranged.
Windows of Wonder
Uncover the secrets of stained glass in the Abbey by embarking on a stained-glass trail. Learn how these windows served as a vital source of religious education for past generations through visual storytelling. Explore the artistry and craftsmanship behind their creation by learning about the various techniques employed and examine authentic stained-glass fragments from the Abbey windows. Finally, design and make your own artwork, based on an interpretation of the stained glass that you have seen during the day.
RE, Art
-Themed tour around the Abbey Church
-Craft activity
-Make your own interpretation of stained glass in a craft activity.
-Monastic Way Exhibition or Education Centre activity session
Signs and Symbols
Immerse yourself in the rich symbolism of Christianity by engaging in a tour of the Abbey church. You’ll encounter a diverse array of symbols, from ancient to modern, each with its own unique story to tell.
Following the tour, take part in a craft workshop, where you’ll use printing or clay to recreate your own interpretation of these symbols.
RE, Art
-Themed tour of the Abbey church.
-Craft activity to re-create these using printing or clay.
-Question and answer session with a monk can be arranged.
Senses Trail
Experience the Abbey church using all your senses to learn about its significance in Christian worship today.
RE
-Themed tour of the Abbey church
-Craft activity
-Question and answer session with a monk can be arranged.
Brother Bear Tour
Introduce your pupils to the Christian faith and community life through our specially designed Brother Bear Tour, perfect for Early Years and Key Stage 1.
Through storytelling, exploration and creative activities, children will discover the significant role of monks. This unique experience links supports KS1 RE learning about Christian beliefs, symbols, and ways of life.
Leading the experience is ‘Brother Bear,’ a soft toy monk who guides children around the Abbey and helps them to understand what it is like to live in a Christian community.
Brother Bear brings the story of the Abbey to life, making Christian traditions and values engaging and age-appropriate for young learners.
RE
-Follow Brother Bear’s journey to learn how monks live, pray, and work together.
-Enjoy a craft activity linked to the Abbey Church and Christian symbols.
-Optionally, meet a real monk and ask questions about their faith and daily life.
-Take home their very own Buckfast ‘Monk Bear’ as a keepsake to remember their learning.
Journeys – Be a Pilgrim at Buckfast Abbey
Follow in the footsteps of the medieval pilgrims by making your own pilgrimage to Buckfast Abbey. Find meaning and reflection on a pilgrim’s journey at Buckfast Abbey. Explore the beautiful grounds and Abbey Church, while learning about the tradition of pilgrimage. Participants will have the chance to reflect on their own personal journeys and to create a unique pilgrim badge, as a memento of the day.
RE
-Tour of Abbey Church and grounds
-Craft Activity
-Question and answer session with a monk can be arranged.
Celebration of Creation
Connect with nature and faith at Buckfast Abbey. Explore the Abbey grounds on an interactive nature trail, celebrating the beauty of God’s creation. Experience the wonder of the natural world and find moments for quiet reflection. Discover the fascinating life of bees, observe our active hive, and learn about their vital role they play in the ecosystem. The importance of environmental stewardship and exploring the challenges facing our planet are also explored during the workshop. There is also the opportunity to take part in craft activities using natural materials and processes.
RE
-Guided environmental trail around the Abbey grounds
-Interactive workshop in Education Centre focussed on bees
-Environmental activities
-Natural art craft activities
Christmas
Celebrate Christmas at Buckfast Abbey! Our festive programme offers a range of interactive experiences tailored to suit all primary age groups. Each workshop features storytelling, a guided tour of the Abbey Church, and engaging creative craft activities.
Our current Christmas programme is:
>Angel Day
>Nativity Story
>Astronomers’ Tale
>St Nicholas Day
RE
– Advent Day
– Angel Day
– Nativity Day
– St Nicholas Day
Easter
From Reception to Year 6, there is an Easter workshop available which combines storytelling, a guided tour of the church, and creative craft activities.
The Donkey’s Tale (R/KS1)
An interactive storytelling workshop which explores the events of Easter week through the eyes of the donkey who was chosen to carry Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Pupils will receive their own cuddly donkey to help them to remember the story. Pupils will also take part in a craft session
Threads of Easter (KS2)
An interactive tour around the church that retells the story from Palm Sunday to the crucifixion and resurrection. At each stop, pupils will talk about concepts from the story and ‘build’ the story using beads.
Extraordinary Easter Eggs
Using our map, explore the Abbey grounds and find giant Easter eggs which contain instructions for an activity relating to the Easter story.
RE
-Storytelling session
-Guided tour of the church
-Craft activities
Eco Day at Buckfast Abbey
Bring your school’s Eco Group to Buckfast Abbey for a fun, interactive day packed with real-world sustainability in action.
Science
Geography
-Watch our Archimedes screw and Water Wheel harness natural energy.
-Discover how we grow plants for our shop and make compost.
-Visit our observational beehive and learn how we produce Buckfast honey.
-Learn how the monks use locally grown and farmed materials to make produce.
Let your light shine: a workshop for Pupil Ethos groups
Bring your Pupil Ethos Group to Buckfast Abbey, to embark on an enrichment day specifically designed for Key Stage 1 and 2 children. This Pupil Ethos Day offers a unique opportunity to explore the Abbey’s historical and spiritual significance, whilst providing pupils with the opportunity to reflect on their own school values. Through interactive activities and guided exploration, pupils will discover the principles of community, respect, and responsibility, all within the inspiring and peaceful setting of Buckfast Abbey. The day is designed to encourage reflection and collaboration, helping children to consider how they can contribute positively to their school and wider community.
RE, Art
-Reflective tour of Abbey Church and grounds
-Interactive, collaborative activities designed around school values
-Art/ craft activities linked to community, respect, responsibility (e.g. a choice of prayer beads, illuminated letters, stained glass, lanterns)
-Question and Answer session with a monk can be arranged upon request
If you are interested in any of the activities above, please complete the form below and we will be in touch with more information..
