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 delighted to be able to welcome organised groups from schools and colleges. During our first year of operation, more than 100 school groups visited us.
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. There is some interactive content, and this can be supplemented by other learning activities discussed in advance of your visit (such activities are more easily arranged during recess, or on Fridays).
- 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 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. To avoid disappointment, we advise that tours are booked 6-8 weeks in advance of your proposed visiting date.
Students and teachers looking for an introduction to the court and its work might find our ‘About the JCPC’ section helpful.