Booking a School Visit

We offer two types of School visits: a Self-Led School Visit (supervised entirely by you and your school staff) or a School Workshop.

Self Led School Visits

It is vital that all school groups complete a booking form for their self -led visit to ensure the museum team can manage numbers within gallery spaces.

FAQ’s + Key Information

What is a school self-led visit?

A self-led visit is a trip to the museum that is independent and supervised entirely by you and your school staff. This means that your school group explore the exhibitions and galleries without support from the museum’s Learning and Engagement team.

What’s the maximum group size for school self-led visit?

The maximum group size for a school self-led visit is 25 people total. This reflects the size of the museum’s galleries and the capacity of our volunteer gallery stewards.

If you would like to visit with a school group larger than 25 people, we can arrange for groups to stagger their arrival times. Please contact the Learning & Engagement Assistant (education@holburne.org) to discuss the needs of your school group before visiting.

What are the costs involved with a school self-led visit?

The museum is free entry to anyone under 18 meaning most school pupils do not need to pay a museum entry fee. Accompanying school staff are expected to pay the standard museum entry fee, details of these costs can be found here.

Full ticket prices including concessions can be found here Ticket Information – The Holburne Museum

Entry fees can be settled upon arrival, alternatively they can be invoiced. Please speak to the museum team to arrange this prior to your visit.

How do I book a self-led visit?

Please contact the Learning & Engagement Assistant (education@holburne.org) to discuss your group booking or to arrange a pre-visit planning appointment. Please note standard museum entry fee is applicable for any pre-visit appointments.

Staffing Ratios

We advise an adult pupil ratio of 1:8 for KS1 and KS2 and 1:10 for Key Stage 3 and above. School staff and accompanying adults must supervise pupils throughout the visit. Please ensure that all accompanying adults are made aware of the relevant information in these notes.

In the galleries

Please ensure your students understand that other paying visitors may also be enjoying the museum.

We encourage sketching in the galleries but ask that only pencils are used in line with the museum’s conservation policies. You are welcome to bring A4 Sketchbooks and clipboards. Please ensure that students do not lean on walls and cases or lie on gallery floors.

Risk Assessment

Please read the accompanying Hazard Identification Guidelines and contact us if you wish to discuss anything in further detail.

Access

The Museum galleries are wheelchair accessible via a lift and there is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please ensure that you have discussed any special requirements for pupils and/or accompanying adults with the Learning & Engagement Assistant before the visit.

Weather

If your visit is to include a canal walk or visit to Sydney Gardens, please advise pupils to wear comfortable shoes and to bring wet weather gear or sun hats as appropriate.

Parking

The Coach drop off point for the Museum is on Sydney Place by the right-hand side entrance to the Museum.

Toilets

Toilets are located in the basement (with an accessible toilet on the ground floor); school staff should accompany primary school pupils to the toilets.

Coats & Bags

We are unable to store coats and bags for self-led visits so please bear this in mind prior to your visit. A limited amount of lockers are available outside the museum’s toilets, these can fit small bags and require a £1 coin to lock.

Lunch

The Clore Learning Space can be booked for up to an hour, for a charge of £15. Please note this is dependent on availability. This charge is to cover additional cleaning costs.

Lunches can be also eaten in the Museum grounds – except in the area belonging to the Garden Cafe. Accompanying adults may purchase their own takeaway items from the Museum’s Garden café.

Food and drink must not be consumed in the Museum galleries.

Shop

There is a small Museum shop; visits can be made in small, accompanied groups during lunchtime or at the end of the visit.

Photography

Photography without a flash is allowed in the main Museum galleries but not in the temporary exhibition spaces as these usually contain objects and images that are on loan to the Museum for which we do not have the copyright.

Group Management

School staff and accompanying adults are responsible for the behaviour of their pupils during the visit.

Weather permitting, we recommend that you also try to spend some time outside exploring Sydney Gardens. For learning resources and activities relating to Sydney Gardens see https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/sport-leisure-and-parks/parks-green-spaces/sydney-gardens/learning-resources-sydney-gardens

First Aid

The administering of First Aid to pupils is the responsibility of the school.

Fire drill

In the case of a fire alarm sounding, all museum visitors will be required to exit the building using the nearest available exit to the designated fire assembly point. This is located in the car park to the left-hand side of the museum.

School Workshops

Please see the following for key information and how to book a school workshop. All school workshops must be booked in with the museum’s Learning team.

FAQ’s + Key Information

What is a school workshop?

Our workshops enable pupils to explore different aspects of the Holburne’s collection, developing their skills of observation, building vocabulary and confidence in talking about the Museum collection and their own responses. Each workshop includes visit to the museum galleries and a practical session. Pupils develop their skills in creative activities that complement and demonstrate what they have learnt in the galleries.

Full listings of available workshops can be found here:- https://www.holburne.org/learning/

We are able to offer bespoke workshops, please contact education@holburne.org to discuss your requirements.

 What’s the maximum group size for school workshop?

The maximum group size for a school workshop is 32 pupils.We are able to offer bookings for larger school groups on a carousel basis. An example of this can be:-

1 group in school workshop + 1 group in self-led activity session

– Groups swap over –

1 group in school workshop + 1 group in self-led activity session

Please note this is subject to availability. To discuss workshops and activities for larger school groups please contact education@holburne.org

What are the costs involved with a school workshop?

Costs for school workshops vary dependent on creative activities in a workshop, prices start at £130+vat.  Please see https://www.holburne.org/learning/ for workshop costs.

Workshop costs are inclusive of museum entry for all pupils and staff (as part of a workshop) and all creative materials. An invoice, including VAT will be issued after the workshop has taken place.

 How do I book a school workshop?

Please contact the Learning & Engagement Assistant (education@holburne.org) to discuss your booking or to arrange a pre-visit planning appointment. Please note standard museum entry fee is applicable for any pre-visit appointments.

Once details of your workshop have been agreed you will be supplied with a school workshop booking form. Bookings for school workshops are not confirmed until this form has been completed and returned.

On the day

Please note that the museum does not open to the public until 10am.

Groups are expected to arrive a minimum of 5 minutes before their workshop start time. If you are running late please contact the museum front desk on 01225 388569.

Upon arrival for school workshops groups can enter by walking around to the right-hand side of the exterior of the museum. A large white door is located on the left side of the building which can be used to enter the Clore Learning space.

Staffing Ratios

We advise an adult pupil ratio of 1:8 for KS1 and KS2 and 1:10 for Key Stage 3 and above. School staff and accompanying adults must supervise pupils throughout the visit. Please ensure that all accompanying adults are made aware of the relevant information in these notes.

Risk Assessment

Please read the accompanying Hazard Identification Guidelines which can be used to infirm a risk assessment . Please contact us if you wish to discuss anything in further detail.

Access

The Museum galleries are wheelchair accessible via a lift and there is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. Please ensure that you have discussed any special requirements for pupils and/or accompanying adults with the Learning & Engagement Assistant before the visit.

Weather

If your visit is to include a canal walk or visit to Sydney Gardens, please advise pupils to wear comfortable shoes and to bring wet weather gear or sun hats as appropriate.

Parking

The Coach drop off point for the Museum is on Sydney Place by the right-hand side entrance to the Museum.

Toilets

Toilets are located in the basement (with an accessible toilet on the ground floor); school staff should accompany primary school pupils.

Coats & Bags

Pupils coats and bags can be stored in the Clore Learning space upon arrival for a workshop. Please note we are unable to store belongings after your workshop time.

Lunch

The Clore Learning Space can be booked for up to an hour, for a charge of £15. Please note this is dependent on availability. This charge is to cover additional cleaning costs.

Lunches can be also eaten in the Museum grounds – except in the area belonging to the Garden Café. Accompanying adults may purchase their own takeaway items from the Museum’s Garden café.

Food and drink must not be consumed in the Museum galleries.

Shop

There is a small Museum shop; visits can be made in small, accompanied groups during lunchtime or at the end of the visit.

Photography

Photography without a flash is allowed in the main Museum galleries but not in the temporary exhibition spaces as these usually contain objects and images that are on loan to the Museum for which we do not have the copyright.

Group Management

When visiting the museum galleries as part of a school workshop you will be accompanied by a creative facilitator. School staff and accompanying adults are responsible for the behaviour of their pupils during the visit.

Weather permitting, we recommend that you also try to spend some time outside exploring Sydney Gardens. For learning resources and activities relating to Sydney Gardens see https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/services/sport-leisure-and-parks/parks-green-spaces/sydney-gardens/learning-resources-sydney-gardens

First Aid

The administering of First Aid to pupils is the responsibility of the school.

Fire drill

In the case of a fire alarm sounding, all museum visitors will be required to exit the building using the nearest available exit to the designated fire assembly point. This is located in the car park to the left-hand side of the museum.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel within one week of workshop delivery you will be liable to pay the full cost. If you need to cancel your workshop booking people contact education@holburne.org as soon as possible.