The problem

Pupils' background knowledge - Tudors and Victorians

Here at Knebworth House, primary school children visit us to enhance their learning of both the Tudors and the Victorians, in particular; both are popular periods to study within the primary curriculum and both have special significance for us at Knebworth.

But as eager faces tumble off the coach and teachers swap their digital pens for a digital camera, our team of Educational Guides would confront a perennial problem. When the teacher who booked the visit said they had ‘done' the Victorians, do they know how long ago the period was? Will that help them to realise that the Victorian toys they will play with today won't have batteries?! Will this teacher who booked our Tudor day as an introduction to the topic have mentioned Elizabeth or Henry to the class? What will they think when we take them to see Queen Elizabeth's room (they might be expecting Will's gran!)?