About

Heritage Open Days is England’s annual celebration of local architecture, history and culture, taking place in September. With thousands of places of every style, age and function opening up to the public free of charge, it is a fantastic opportunity for learning and discovery right on your doorstep. The Civic Trust successfully applied for a Heritage Lottery Fund grant to run a four-year project to harness the programme’s educational potential. HODs Classroom is the last of a series of resources for schools and local organisations produced by the Heritage Open Days Education Team in collaboration with Topaz Consultancy.

Most of the buildings and places featured in this resource have taken part in the scheme. HODs Classroom, as the name suggests, brings the places that make up our communities into the classroom. The videos allow you to step inside and encounter some of the volunteers - property owners, site managers, guides, community leaders, and ordinary people from all walks of life - whose passion and knowledge are Heritage Open Days lifeblood. The Civic Trust would like to thank all those who have contributed to this resource and have given up their time so generously.

However, even the most informative videos, detailed photographs or elaborate plans cannot replace the ‘live’ experience of visiting your local historic, built and natural environment. It is possible either over Heritage Open Days or at any other time of the year, to step outside the classroom and use your own school’s surroundings as a teaching tool and an inspiration for learning.