School Visits

Learning at Stonehenge - Inspiring the Future

Our vision is to create a world-class learning centre where children can learn from the past to face the challenges of the future.​

Stonehenge is a world-famous prehistoric monument at the centre of an outstandingly rich archaeological landscape. It's a place at which ancient mysteries are still being unlocked by cutting-edge science.

English Heritage has been granted planning permission for new learning facilities at Stonehenge to enhance the existing education we currently provide.

Our vision

Stonehenge is a world-famous monument and it deserves a world-class educational experience to match.  Our ambition is to develop our already successful education programme into a sector-leading offer both at Stonehenge and for remote learners across the world.

We want to transform learning at Stonehenge and believe that by learning from the past we can help shape the future. Hands-on, problem-solving learning programmes will give children and young people – including those who are not engaged by science at school – the chance to look at STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects in new ways, and to ask themselves: If the Stonehenge builders could create something incredible, why can’t I?

To better serve the needs of learners today, including those learners with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), we need dedicated and expanded provision for education.

A new Learning Centre will transform our ability to deliver best-in-class educational experiences for students. A STEM lab, learning studio and inclusive facilities will be housed within a cutting-edge building with outstanding environmental credentials.

An immersive 'Neolithic classroom' based on archaeological evidence from the nearby landscape will provide students with learning opportunities unlike anything available in the traditional school environment.

Download the PDF to find out more about the project

Stonehenge Learning Centre

Artist's impression images by Secchi Smith

  • Learning centre

    A new dedicated Learning Centre will transform our ability to deliver best-in-class educational experiences for students. The centre will feature a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Learning Lab, a flexible, welcoming education space, a digital production studio, accessible and inclusive facilities including a Changing Places space, and a smaller break out space for those with different education needs. It will also feature a multipurpose foyer and an open-air courtyard for active outdoor learning.

  • STEM Learning Lab

    A STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) lab, learning studio and inclusive facilities will be housed within a cutting-edge building with outstanding environmental credentials.  With high-tech equipment and specialist staffing, students will enjoy a learning experience unlike anything available in the classroom.

  • "Neolithic classroom"

    English Heritage volunteers and a specialist experimental archaeologist will help us create an immersive “Neolithic classroom”. Based on archaeological evidence from the nearby landscape, this reconstruction of a Neolithic building will transport learners back to the time of Stonehenge.

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of STEM Learning Lab

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of STEM Learning Lab

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of STEM Learning Lab
CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of STEM Learning Lab
CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of Learning Centre courtyard

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of Learning Centre courtyard

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of Learning Centre courtyard
CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of Learning Centre courtyard
CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of "Neolithic classroom"

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of "Neolithic classroom"

CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of "Neolithic classroom"
CLICK TO ENLARGE Artist's impression of "Neolithic classroom"
CLICK TO ENLARGE Ground Floor Plan

CLICK TO ENLARGE Ground Floor Plan

CLICK TO ENLARGE Ground Floor Plan
CLICK TO ENLARGE Ground Floor Plan
CLICK TO ENLARGE Location Plan

CLICK TO ENLARGE Location Plan

CLICK TO ENLARGE Location Plan
CLICK TO ENLARGE Location Plan
STEM learning at Stonehenge

STEM learning at Stonehenge

STEM learning at Stonehenge
STEM learning at Stonehenge
Discovery Visit at Stonehenge

Discovery Visit at Stonehenge

Discovery Visit at Stonehenge
Discovery Visit at Stonehenge

Find out more about how English Heritage hopes to develop Learning at Stonehenge - Inspiring the Future.

A BSL interpreted version is available here.

Learn more

  • A Sustainable Design

    Environmental sustainability is central to the project. The new Learning Centre is set to be a low carbon structure, built using natural and locally sourced materials, with minimal energy consumption, showcasing English Heritage's dedication to environmental sustainability. The centre will be designed to the highest sustainability standards and will integrate with the landscape through its materials and design, highlighting the charity's environmental sustainability policy.


    The Learning Centre will prioritise natural and compostable materials to reduce its carbon footprint, with a focus on sourcing locally wherever possible, and best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation, further emphasizing the charity's commitment to environmental sustainability.


    The ‘Neolithic classroom’ will be made of materials that would have been available in pre-history, and these materials will be sourced locally: the roof will be thatched, the walls and structure made from locally coppiced timber, the daub and limewashed walls will be made from lime stablilised earth from Wiltshire chalk deposits.


    These innovative and sustainable buildings will be a source of inspiration for learners and exploring their engineering features will be incorporated into the learning programme.


    The Learning Centre will provide a family of learning spaces wrapped around a secluded courtyard. Inspired by the way Stonehenge creates a strong sense of enclosure in Wiltshire’s open grasslands, the Learning Centre will use a colonnade of sweet chestnut posts to define a safe place for learning in the landscape. Its design reflects the charity's commitment to environmental sustainability. Constructed from monolithic clay block walls, timber frame and wood fibre insulation it has a low embodied carbon. It will operate as a free-running building in summer with natural ventilation and night-time cooling ensuring minimal operational carbon. Underfloor heating with an air source heat pump will only be necessary during the coldest times of the year.

  • Excellence in Inclusivity

    The Learning Centre will be a beacon for inclusive design for English Heritage and the wider sector.

    Stonehenge’s provision for visitors with disabilities is award-winning and we will design the Learning Centre and Neolithic 'classroom' to continue this trajectory. 

    The site is step-free, and on a single level with fully compliant gradients, ramps, and slopes. Collaboration with Access and Inclusivity experts has been a priority during the design process, with key challenges identified and addressed. Codesign sessions will be held with young people with diverse needs to ensure that the fit-out, including furniture and fittings, supports an inclusive learning environment. The goal is to create a space that is welcoming and accessible to all, regardless of ability or background.

    Working collaboratively with specialist access consultants and SEND learners, the project will deliver excellence in inclusivity – not only creating an accessible building but delivering inclusive spaces and programmes so that all users will feel welcome, comfortable and engaged at Stonehenge.

  • Timeline

     

    Autumn 2023 Submit planning application
    March 2024 Planning permission granted
    Spring 2025 Learning Centre and Neolithic 'classroom' - work starts
    Autumn 2026 Launch 
  • Project updates

    English Heritage has been granted planning permission for new learning facilities at Stonehenge to enhance the existing education we currently provide. 

Mrs Carole Dean, Headteacher at Stonehenge School

“As careers and jobs change, it is vital that we invest in up-to-date approaches to stimulate an interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics by demonstrating how the modern world of innovation and discovery relies on a combination of all four subjects. This means that we need quality provision, such as the plans for this STEM Learning Lab, Digital Production Studio and STEM in Heritage learning offer at Stonehenge, to help our pupils understand their society and heritage, and gain the key ingredients that they need to become successful in their future careers and worlds of work.”

Mrs Charlotte Harmer, Headteacher at Larkhill School

“The development of a new Learning Centre will mean that English Heritage is able to offer a much more inclusive environment for all learners, including those with special educational needs and disabilities. The opportunity for our pupils to have an even broader experience of Stonehenge which includes STEM links is one that we very much look forward to with the development of a STEM Learning Centre.”

Dr Dominique Bouchard, Head of Learning and Interpretation, English Heritage

"We want learning at Stonehenge to be as remarkable as the World Heritage Site itself, and we want young people to leave feeling inspired, thinking, "If the builders of Stonehenge could create something incredible, why can't I?"  This is an opportunity to enhance our award-winning schools programme with a new Learning Centre and offer at Stonehenge, worthy of the monument’s significance and which allows young people to connect with the past in extraordinary ways. It is important we get it right and so we want to hear your views."

The Rt Hon John Glen MP for Salisbury

"English Heritage’s plans to enhance the education offer at Stonehenge with new inclusive and sustainably built facilities, alongside a whole new STEM learning programme is fantastic news, both for local children, learners from further afield and for Wiltshire as a whole.”

Support Us

Our vision is to create a world-class education centre where children can learn from the past to face the challenges of the future. This plan for Stonehenge is bold and ambitious and we need your help to realise our vision.

You may wish to support in one of the following ways.

Donate now – take your place in England’s story by bringing us closer to achieving our vision for transformative learning at this world-famous site. You can donate here.

Become an English Heritage Guardian and make history happen – join a cohort of like-minded supporters who champion our work and contribute to a wide range of activities including landmark projects such as Learning at Stonehenge and ensuring a sustainable future for heritage.

Support us by becoming a Corporate Partner – our experienced team is dedicated to helping our partners play their part to ignite imaginations and help us to achieve sustainability across our buildings and programmes through the development of creative and distinctive partnerships.

Leave a Gift in your Will – supporting English Heritage with a gift in your will, however large or small, will help ensure that we can look after the heritage that matters to you long into the future.

For more information and to discover more about how you can support learning at Stonehenge visit www.english-heritage.org.uk/support-us or email development@english-heritage.org.uk, we would be delighted to discuss how you could help.

Thank you for your interest.