Education
One of the court’s key aims is to educate and inspire people about the UK justice systems, as well as to adjudicate on cases. Our prominent location in central London, and our role as the highest court in the land, means we are uniquely placed to offer students an insight into the workings of the UK courts and how they fit into a wider constitutional framework.
We are able to provide:
- Organised tours of the building (including courtrooms not in use), tailored to fit specific curriculum areas/learning outcomes. Law GCSE/A Level/Degree level students have found visits particularly helpful, as have Government and Politics students, but we are happy to discuss how our work could be explored through other areas of the curriculum and for different age groups.
- Time in our dedicated exhibition space, which includes sections focusing on how we hear cases, and introduction to the wider justice systems in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, the history of British constitutional affairs, and the building’s links with Middlesex.
- The use of our toilet, café and shop facilities.
- We can occasionally provide talks by Judicial Assistants (the Justices’ legal assistants) or senior officials of the court.
If you are interested in discussing a visit by your school or college group, please complete a pre-tour questionnaire and send it to Enquiries so that we can discuss your requirements. We will also be able to advise on whether the court is sitting on the day you plan to visit (in order to give students an opportunity to see a case in progress), but you can check this in advance by viewing our Court sittings section. The maximum group size is 25 students. To avoid disappointment, we advise that tours are booked 10 weeks in advance of your proposed visiting date.
We also offer a range of downloadable learning resources for schools, colleges and universities. We recommend you browse these before your visit to help students make the most of their time here.
The Supreme Court also works in partnership with the National Centre for Citizenship and the Law to deliver a programme of extended learning sessions at the court on an occasional basis. We work with groups of up to 25 Year 11, 12 or 13 students over the course of four hours (typically 11am - 3pm), during which students are given a tour of the Court, time in our exhibition area, and then split into opposing groups to prepare for a "moot" (mock legal debate) on a question that has previously been considered by this Court. A further group of the students act as the judges, considering the strength of the arguments put before them on the point of law at stake. The day gives students the opportunity to explore the subject of the separation of powers, the role of the senior appeal courts, and the constitutional position of the Supreme Court in greater depth than a standard tour allows. To enquire about forthcoming availability for these days, please contact NCCL directly via their website.
Students and teachers looking for an introduction to the court and its work might find our ‘About the Supreme Court’ section helpful.
Other opportunities near The Supreme Court
Visit Europe House in 2013
Europe House, the UK offices of the European Parliament and European Commission, is less than ten minutes' walk from the Court (in Smith Square).
The team there offer 90-minute educational sessions designed to enhance students' learning about Europe, the European Parliament and the relationship between the UK and the EU. The politically neutral educational sessions are suitable for Key Stages 3-5, and are offered on selected days of the week, free of charge.
A class visit to Europe House complements a visit to the UK Supreme Court by offering students an insight into some of the institutions which make decisions affecting their lives and their society, and is particularly effective if organised alongside a visit to the Houses of Parliament.
For more details and booking information, please visit the Europe House website.
Westminster Abbey
Just a stone's throw from the Supreme Court is another inspiring building at the heart of national life.
With a rich tradition of Christian worship and over a thousand years of history, why not combine your visit to the Court with booking your group onto one of the professionally-led sessions (lasting around 90 minutes - 2 hours) from the Abbey's varied programme of events.
During term time, the Abbey's Education Department puts on a programme of themed events each week. Schools who wish to have a more general guided tour are welcome to visit on Mondays and Fridays when the Abbey's team of guides will be on hand.
The Abbey's programme is released a term in advance. For more details and booking information, please visit the Westminster Abbey website.