Our award winning learning programme is the largest and most varied of its kind in Cornwall. We offer your school group an unforgettable experience in the Museum’s inspirational spaces.
Opening and visit times
The Museum is open to the public and education groups between 10am and 5pm, seven days a week every day throughout the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day. School visits are typically between 10am and 2pm, but our Learning Manager is happy to help you timetable your visit depending on your arrival and departure times.
Workshops and hands-on activities
We offer a range of curriculum workshops and hands-on learning activities for formal and informal education groups. Each programme can be carefully tailored to the needs of your group. We may also be able to mix and match activities to your topic or programme of study.
Free planning visit
Teachers and group leaders are welcome and encouraged to carry out a free planning visit to see how we can meet the aims of your visit and assess the site. Our Learning Manager can arrange a personal planning meeting whenever convenient.
Charges
The Museum is passionate about the life-long value of engaging young people with the Museum’s unique cultural resources, and aims to keep its charges to educational groups as low and flexible as possible. Example costs per pupil/student for education groups are outlined below. Please note all adults in a supervisory role are free of charge for pre-booked groups.
Payment
You may pay on arrival by credit card or by cheque (made payable to National Maritime Museum Cornwall). We are happy to invoice schools and other groups after their visit. All charges are based on numbers actually attending (e.g. if only 45 students attend out of an original booking of 50, we will only charge for the 45 students).
|
Self-directed /facilitated package
|
With full workshop programme
|
Notes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-schools and nurseries |
£4.95
|
N/A
|
Half-day visit with activities
|
| Schools and colleges |
£4.95
|
£5.95
|
Incl. home education groups by arrangement
|
| Further and higher education |
£4.95
|
By arrangement
|
|
| Overseas education groups |
£4.95
|
N/A
|
|
| Scouts, guides and other youth groups |
£4.95
|
£5.95
|
|
| Other groups |
By arrangement
|
By arrangement
|
Cancellation policy
The Museum aims to be as accommodating as possible with education group bookings. However, because of the high level of demand, we reserve the right to charge a cancellation fee for groups with fewer than half their booked numbers or who cancel within 21 days of the visit date.
Health and safety
Risk assessments
All workshops, buildings, exhibits and activities within the Museum have been fully risk assessed. To assist teachers and other education group leaders the education department has produced two documents:
- Health and safety for school and college groups
- Risk assessment information for school and college groups
Specific risk assessment information for individual workshops will be sent as part of the booking process.
Supervision
Teachers, group leaders and accompanying adults are responsible for the behaviour and general health and safety of their group whilst at the Museum. They should remain with their groups at all times for their health and safety, and must accompany them in case of evacuation. Groups must have the appropriate adult to pupil ratio for the age range of students attending the Museum.
We advise the following:
|
Minimum
(Cornwall Council) |
Suggested
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Early Years (Ages 0-5 years) |
1 adult : 3 pupils
|
1 adult : 3 pupils
|
| KS1 (Years 1- 2) |
1 adult : 6 pupils
|
1 adult : 5 pupils
|
| KS2 (Years 3- 6) |
1 adult : 10 pupils
|
1 adult : 8 pupils
|
| Year 7 onwards |
1 adult : 15 pupils
|
1 adult : 15 pupils (with an additional ‘floating’ member of staff for emergencies) |
Getting here
Grants for school transport
Cornwall Heritage Trust may give financial support for transport to enable schools to make visits to heritage sites or undertake visits which have a purpose of developing awareness and appreciation of Cornish heritage.
Please click here for more information
Parking
As of May 2019 the Maritime Museum will be installing a minimum height barrier in the Maritime Car Park. Coaches and minibuses will no longer be able to access the car park however alternative provisions have been made for school visits:
Minibuses
Minibuses for pre-booked school/education visits will be allowed access into Events Square and will be permitted to park at the rear of the Museum.
Coaches
Coaches can drop children off on Cambeltown Way (adjacent to the Maritime Car Park) OR at the Bus Stop on Marine Crescent, just to the right of the Maritime Car Park entrance. Coaches may park a short distance away at Gyllyngvase Beach Coach Park. Click here for directions. For more information please visit the Cornwall Council website.
Cars
Staff cars may park free of charge in the Maritime Car Park. Click here for directions. Please note, you must give your vehicle registration number to the museum admissions desk on arrival. Failure to do so will result in a parking fine.
Facilities and access
Coats and bags
Coats and bags may be stored in the Learning Centre. Groups using other ‘base areas’ in the Museum will, where possible, be provided with coat racks and storage trolleys. Valuables are left at owners’ risk.
Toilets
There are toilets on the first and second floors of the Museum, including accessible toilets. The Learning Centre has its own toilets which are not available to the public, including an adapted toilet for wheelchair users.
Disabled access
The Museum is fully accessible for people with disabilities or limited mobility. Please contact our Learning Manager to discuss your needs and any additional support we may be able to provide.
Lunch
Students and accompanying adults are welcome to bring a packed lunch with them. Pre-booked groups may eat lunches or refreshments in their dedicated ‘base area’ but must be supervised by accompanying adults at all times. The Museum also has a café which serves teas, coffees and hot and cold food.
Shop
We offer a good range of educational items, books and ‘pocket money’ souvenirs. If you are planning to visit the shop please let us know in advance so that enough time is allowed in your visit timetable. Please limit the number of students in the shop at any one time to approximately 10, ensuring that they have an adult with them.
Booking form
Please use this booking form to book your visit.
Contact us
Formal Learning Manager: Seth Hall
Telephone: 01326 214 535
Email: sethhall@nmmc.co.uk
