Taking a hands-on approach with the royal hierarchy and the effectiveness of CCTV are two fun ways of maintaining pupils’ interest

One creative way I have found to engage the pupils is to set up a virtual Tudor Court in my classroom, with me as a (slimline) Henry VIII at one end.

I then randomly give out actual Tudor job titles such as Knight Harbinger, Lord Chamberlain and Groom of the Stool. The pupils have to place themselves as near to me as they think the job would allow royal access.

I run pictorial clues on my whiteboard, showing equivalent jobs so that pupils can work out which one refers to theirs.

We then move pupils around the court to show how some would have limited access to the king, while others would have close contact and lots of influence.

The Groom of the Stool’s job is last. Clues and hints mean the awful truth (he actually wiped the royal bottom) eventually ripples through the room. The moment of realisation dawning on the pupil given that job is always entertaining.