School Workshops

History Through Drama – Nine Days of Turmoil: 100 Years Since the General Strike

May 2026 will mark the centenary of the General Strike – when workers across the country walked out of their jobs to protest against poverty-level wages and terrible working conditions in the coal mining industry. It’s an event that has gone down in history, teaching everyone the importance of resolving disputes before things come to a head. So why not mark this momentous anniversary with our whole-school History Through Drama: Nine Days of Turmoil: 100 Years Since the General Strike?

Introduction

The day comprises …

Able to accommodate the whole of up to a two-form entry school in just a single day, Nine Days of Turmoil opens with a whole-school, interactive assembly exploring what a strike is and the background to the events of May 1926. This leads to a series of drama-based workshops in which each year group explores a different facet of this landmark moment in history – and how the country has changed since.

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Workshops:

EYFS/P1: The General Strike – the Strikers … who went on strike? Why were their jobs so important? And how have those jobs changed since then?

Year 1/P2: The General Strike – the Buses … why did buses (particularly in London) become so symbolically important during the strike – and how did people manage without them? How has public transport changed in the hundred years since then?

Year 2/P3: The General Strike – the Football Match … how did football play a part in bringing the opposing sides together? And how has football changed in the hundred years since the strike?

Year 3/P4: The General Strike – the King … what did the King do during the General Strike? Did anyone try to use him? And how has the role of King changed since then?

Year 4/P5: The General Strike – Locations … where did some of the “big moments” of the General Strike take place – all over the country? Do they look the same now as they did then? And if not, how and why have they changed?

Year 5/P6: The General Strike – the People … which people played important roles during the strike? Were they for or against the strike? And what did they go on to do in their lives?

Year 6/P7: The General Strike – the Miners … why was coal so important in 1926 – and what was life like for the miners? Are we as reliant on coal now as then – and if not, what has changed?

Year Groups	EYFS-Y6 P1-P7
Curriculum	History
Pupil Numbers	60 per workshops
Duration	Multiple workshops over one day
Space	School hall

Workshop FAQs

How many pupils can take part?

A Big History Day can accommodate up-to 60 pupils per workshop – that’s the whole of a two-form entry school in just one day!

What is the format of the day?

The day involves a whole-school assembly, followed by workshops, each one accommodating up to 60 pupils at a time. We will plan a timetable based on the number of classes you would like to include, but a whole-school day might look something like this:

09.00 – 09.20: Whole-school introductory assembly…

09.20 – 10.00: Year 1 stay in the hall for their workshop …

10.00 – 10.40: Year 2 come to the hall for their workshop …

10.40 – 11.20: Year 3 come to the hall for their workshop …

11.20 – 11.50: One Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …

LUNCH

1.00 – 1.30: The other Reception class have a visit, in their own setting …

1.30 – 2.05: Year 4 come to the hall for their workshop …

2.05 – 2.40: Year 5 come to the hall for their workshop …

2.40 – 3.15: Year 6 come to the hall for their workshop.

Are there any technical requirements?

Your visitor will need access to a laptop/ screen/projector set up in the working space, so that pupils can view the supporting PowerPoint.

Can we dress up?

Yes! lots of schools choose to dress up to really get into the theme of their history day.

Workshop Testimonials

“From all ages foundation to year 6, every children loved it. The teachers commented how well Jackson captivated their attention, was able to command a room too. He broke the poem down very simply and they did some freeze frames to portray how the soldiers would have felt. Was engaging and they were on their feet most of the time to perform, everyone had a part to play with no room for being passive! All the children we have asked had a great time, enjoyed dressing up and found Jackson really engaging. Everyone was so impressed and we can’t wait to work with you again.”

Find out more about our Big History Workshops here