Since it was founded in the 1980s, our award-winning Learning Department has welcomed nearly half a million young people through the cathedral’s doors. This year, we’ve reached a thrilling milestone — our busiest year ever, with over 14,500 children and students visiting from schools across the country!

From Nursery to University level, learners of all ages have taken part in an exciting mix of both regular and special events designed to inspire and engage. Highlights this year have included a 40th Anniversary celebration with bestselling author Cressida Cowell, two Roman Festivals, a Science Festival, a visit from a mobile Planetarium, Holocaust Memorial Day events, and not one but two unforgettable Electric Umbrella concerts — plus many more amazing experiences.

With plenty more activities planned for 2025/26, the Learning Department will look to welcome many more children to the cathedral to engage with its story and heritage.

 

( Left to right) Claire, Steve, Rachel

Claire: My highlights have been the work we’ve done with SEND schools this year.  Sometimes SEND teachers can be uncertain about bringing their pupils to a place of worship so it’s always a pleasure to be able to show them that this place and the activities we do here are for everyone. A really memorable moment for me was having a pupil from a SEND school tell me that it was the best day ever and that her head was so full of new facts she couldn’t believe it!

Lean more about our SEND schools 

Rachel: I think one of my highlights would be the 40^th Anniversary Celebrations. To see so many children in the Cathedral so immersed in the activities is a joy to see. One of my favourite parts was throwing their favourite story spirals from the triphorium and the excitement and buzz that this created. Science festival is always one of my highlights as we teach very different activities – this year’s rockets were great fun though not sure if it quite matches the excitement of throwing teddies from the tower, with parachutes of course!

 

Steve: ‘It has been an amazing year in the Learning Department. To welcome so many children to the cathedral, in this our 40^th anniversary year, has been a great achievement. To round off the summer term with the incredible Electric Umbrella concerts was just perfect. A huge thank you must go to the Learning Team and the all the volunteers who have made this possible’

To learn more about our schools team and to book a future visit or event, take a look at our schools page.

Schools