Self Led School Visits
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.
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 / sun protection 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.
Book an Educational visit
Please contact us on 01225 388568, education@holburne.org or send us a message using the link below.