Education and School Visits
Our education packages support classroom learning in:
- STEM (railway technology and engineering)
- History (Victorian transport, local heritage)
- Geography (landscapes, map reading, natural environment)
- PSHE (team-building and social learning)
We have several options for our curriculum-linked learning to suit your needs and budget.
Visit the Museum- Short of time? Take part in free 20-minute sessions including ‘How a Steam Engine Works’ or the interactive ‘Mystery Object’ challenge.
Full Museum Experience- Enjoy a structured day with a workshop guided tour, and exclusive behind-the-scenes access to our Signal Box and Engineer’s Workshop. Charge £60 for up to 30 pupils.
We can also offer sessions for older students, colleges and other group and learning settings– please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Learning Resources
Self-Guided Museum Worksheets- If you are looking to do a self-guided museum visit as part of your railway tour. The museum can offer a worksheet suitable for your relevant key stage. Charge £1 per pupil.
Loan Boxes – Discover our new educational loan boxes, bringing the museum experience directly into your classroom—contact us to learn more.
Take a look at uur Schools Resource Document which can be downloaded here. These resources share the stories of the railway, its people and the local area. They support particularly local children to learn more about their heritage.
These sessions reflect three important themes in the Railway’s history. Themes have activities relating to STEM, literacy, art, history and information technology.
Communication
- Story-telling in a museum and making a museum display
- Writing for museums
- Signalling with paddles, lamps, levers, pulleys and electric circuits
Communication
Ingenuity
- Navvies
- A day in the life of a steam engine driver
- The remarkable Mary Fair
- Ratty people saving the railway
- Strong structures at the railway and a bridge-building challenge
Ingenuity
Energy & Power
- Energy in the Eskdale valley: making a video presentation
- Starting Synolda – working a steam locomotive
- Locomotion and moving a train
- Power: which turbine is best?
Energy and Power
Synolda Steam Locomotive
Learning
If you would like more information for Railway group visits and itineraries, please contact us. Entry to the museum is free as part of a group visit to the railway. We can provide material for establishments to prepare learning material in advance of their visit. Out of hours, evening or guided tours can be arranged on request.