What to expect from your Roman Educational Day at Murton Park:
- Roman staff will greet your pupils, give an introductory talk, and introduce marching. Four responsible children will be selected to pull the donkey cart with fort supplies.
- Pupils will march to the fort, where they will meet the Centurion, be placed into barracks, and given a costume (a tunic and a belt). After that, they will take a tour of the fort.
- Pupils will be given an introductory talk about the Romans – what is the Roman Empire? How does the military structure of Rome work? How does the fort and its soldiers operate?
- A round robin of jobs will begin – pottery (making a clay lamp they can take home), writing (signing a contract in roman script), military drill (using swords) and spear throwing
- A 30-minute lunch break will be taken in the barracks
- At the end of day, they will perform a testudo (turtle formation with shields) and be raided by a Celt
- You can find the risk assessment here: Roman Day Risk Assessment
Before your visit:
- Please wear appropriate clothing, as we are an outdoor site. Depending on the weather, consider wet weather gear, warm clothing for winter, sunscreen for summer, sensible shoes year-round, and wellies if it is wet.
- Please make sure you have contacted us with any additional needs your group might have.
- Please can you prearrange your children into four groups. The number of groups is a guide and can change on the day.
- Please note the minimum number of pupils is 25 and the maximum is 65 pupils
- You are required to bring one adult for every 10 children with you
Upon arrival:
- Our day runs from 10 am to 3 pm. If you need to modify these times, please inform us. We can easily accommodate minor adjustments. Additionally, if you anticipate being late, please give us a call—just a 10-minute notice can be very helpful. Thank you!
- The school bus or minibus will need to pull in front of the white gate. We do not want children walking across the car park or the roundabout. This may mean they are in a queue of other buses, but Murton staff can help with this on arrival.
- You will meet a costumed member of staff. Before the children disembark from the bus, we need to speak with a lead teacher. First, this conversation will help us confirm the number of staff and children. Additionally, we can identify any additional needs and verify the departure time. Lastly, if desired, we can discuss a visit to the gift shop, as this will affect the day’s schedule.
- As you disembark from the buses, Murton staff will process the paperwork for you. We create an invoice using the final figures and send it to your school.
Facilities
- Access – The site features some uneven gravel and muddy paths, along with steps leading into buildings. We are able to accommodate wheelchairs. Therefore, if you have any concerns, please feel free to call us.
- Toilets – we have toilets in the main building, near the Stone Age village and by the Roman Fort.
- Lunch – please bring your packed lunches with you, you will eat inside in bad weather or in good weather, you can eat outside in our picnic area and grassed areas.
- Shop – We have a gift shop available. Please inform the staff at the start of your day to arrange a visit. We can also prepare gift bags in advance of your visit. Call us to arrange this.
We look forward to giving you a big Roman welcome!
