The Visitors' Centre seeks to work educationally with all visitors, especially with schools. Our aim is to relate the opportunity of a visit to the Cathedral to the mission of the Church. We seek to achieve this by making all visitors welcome, and offering hospitality and information, so that they can become involved in our life and engage with the Cathedral in a way which has impact on their lives.

Through the Visitors' Centre and Cathedral, we offer adult group, parish parties and school groups:

• A general introduction to the Cathedral as a building and community with 1300 years of history
• The opportunity to explore, at depth, particular aspects of the Cathedral and its treasures such as the Library and the Saint Chad Gospels, the Silver Collection, the Glass and the Embroideries
• The opportunity to back up classroom studies in the National Curriculum.
• A collaborative response to needs identified in the classroom which the Cathedral and its Library could meet, for example exploring the Church background to English Literature (Chaucer, Austen, Brontes, Hardy, etc.), and providing opportunities for GCSE project work in History, English, CDT, and of course, Religious Studies
• The opportunity to use the Cathedral in project work for Higher Education, for example drawing and design, photography, tourism and marketing, history, theology
• Facilities for adults and pupils with special needs such as the Touch and Hearing Centre and SEN units