Step into Holy Week
Join us in the beautiful gardens of Westminster Abbey for a special Holy Week experience, where the events, people, and animals of the Easter story are brought to life through engaging biblical drama.
Costumed interpreters lead this interactive session, allowing students to 'meet' people from the Easter story and stroke a donkey, just like the one who carried Jesus. Students will be invited to sit around the table laid for the Last Supper, hear from Peter, Jesus' close friend, as well as the Roman soldier who saw the Crucifixion. Make this the year your students really engage with the true meaning and significance of the remarkable story of Easter.
Suitable for: Years 4-6
Dates: Tuesday 2nd - Thursday 4th March 2027 at 10:30am, 11:30am and 1:00pm.
Duration: 90 minutes
Format: With an all-group introduction and conclusion, this is a round-robin session with four activities which takes place outside in all weathers.
Cost: A flat fee of £300 for up to 32 students. We can accommodate a maximum of 64 students per session.
Learning objectives
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To explore some of the key events of Holy Week through costumed interpretation (e.g. Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, The Last Supper).
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To consider how the events of Holy Week have impacted Christian belief and worship today.
Curriculum links
This session supports the Understanding Christianity themes: Gospel, Easter and Salvation.
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Year 4: Is forgiveness always possible for Christians?
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Year 5: What do Christians believe (What did) Jesus do to save Human Beings?
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Year 6: What difference does the resurrection make to Christians?
In partnership with Wintershall Education
This special event is brought to you by Wintershall Education. The Wintershall team enable schools to use Biblical drama and the arts to ‘experience the story’ of Christianity. Find out more about their award-winning open-air productions.
Frequently asked questions
Please arrive 15 - 20 minutes prior to the session to allow for time to use the toilets. Staff will meet and welcome the group at the Cloister entrance, before dividing into smaller groups (16 maximum) for the session.
There will be a brief introduction inside Westminster Abbey and then groups proceed to College Garden. Students spend 40 mins in College Garden meeting costumed characters from the story of Holy Week. The characters tell their part in the story and give each student a small token to remember them by. We hope these tokens will help students to remember the story of Holy Week and could be used in discussion after the event. Groups move indoors and join together for the final 20 mins of the session where they meet Mary Magdalene who describes seeing the risen Jesus.
If you wish to explore the Abbey further, you are welcome to book a self- led visit either before or after the Step into Holy Week session. Please note that this add-on is free of charge but must be booked in advance.
Most of the session takes place outside in all weathers- please wear suitable clothing.
Packed lunches may be eaten in the Cloisters, a covered, dry area, however it can be cold.
In order to confirm your place, follow the booking link and complete the form.
Please have the following information ready:
- Your school name and postcode
- Your name and school email address
- The number of students
- Your preferred session date and time
We will respond to let you know if the sessions are still available and to complete the booking process.
Please be aware of any students with allergies as there are opportunities to stroke the donkey and to eat Matzo bread during the session. Matzo bread is made from wheat flour and water.
Please ensure your students and staff wear suitable clothing as most of the session takes place outside in all weathers.
It would be useful for students to have some awareness of the events of Holy Week (Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion and resurrection) and key characters (Jesus, Peter, Pilate and Mary Magdalene) prior to the session.
Please ensure you have read the teachers information pack before your visit.
You may find it useful to use one or more of these resources ahead of your visit:
To assist with follow-up work, you will be sent a PowerPoint presentation created by Wintershall Education which poses an "I wonder" question and three reflective questions based on each activity.
You might also like to continue the learning with our collection of KS2 teaching resources.
If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact [email protected]
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