Free learning sessions for EYFS to Key Stage 5 and SEND workshops can now be booked for the 2026/27 academic year, covering art & design and history topics.
Sessions at the National Portrait Gallery explore historical figures and contemporary stories from Britain through creative practice and critical thinking.
Schools can choose from a wide range of learning sessions and workshops covering themes of identity, migration, expression and history topics such as the Tudors and the British Empire.
History through portraits
Your class can come face to face with the Tudors and discover the hidden stories behind the portraits in two era-focused sessions, Meet the Tudors (KS2) and Tudors: the world in a portrait (KS4-5). Guided by a historian, you’ll see famous paintings of Elizabeth I, Henry VIII and Sir Walter Raleigh, and learn why trumpeter John Blanke holds such a significant place in British history.
Key Stages 3-5 can learn more about the British Empire through analysis of portraits from the 1800s, considering what the historical sources and how they’ve been displayed can tell us about the lives of those who lived within the Empire, from royalty to colonies.
The history of migration to Britain is also explored, spanning several hundreds of years from the 1500s to the present day with a focus on the British Empire. The session looks at a mix of paintings and photographs, discussing migration stories and the impact it has had on everyday life in Britain, from politics and sport to art and food.
Key Stage 2 groups can discover the achievements, contributions and impact of significant Black figures throughout British history, using portrait elements such as clothing, pose and expression to examine the past. Key Stage 1 classes can look specifically at the life and impact of Mary Seacole.
Artistic exploration
Get hands-on with sessions in mixed media and drawing sessions for Key Stage 2, learning how artists use different techniques and materials while experimenting to create their own portraits.
Identity through portraiture sessions focus of practical sketchbook work and photography, exploring how identity is communicated through different mediums and building KS3-5 students’ creative confidence.
New sessions for Early Years allow groups to delve into the world of portraiture and play with a variety of materials to make their own portraits. SEND groups can book the Express yourself workshop to explore portraits in multi-sensory ways.
Older students can be booked onto special Masterclass sessions that are held occasionally throughout the year. The upcoming session in October is a portrait painting day inspired by the Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Portrait Award 2026 exhibition. Students will visit the exhibition and work with a professional artist to bring techniques seen in the display into their own work.
All learning sessions are free, take between 15-30 pupils and typically run twice a day, meaning larger groups can be split. The National Gallery also welcomes self-led visits with up to 60 students and there’s a lunch room which can be reserved at a time to suit a school.
Book a learning session here. For more information about school visits go to: npg.org.uk/visit/school-visits.
