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Secondary and post-16

Here you’ll find school resources, our Carbon Ruins competition and information to help you plan your visit.

Resources, activities and visits

Free self-led visits  

Cost: Free 

We want to support educators to make the very most of a museum visit and explore the galleries at your own pace.  All self-led visits will include access to galleries (including time in the Golden Mummies of Egypt exhibition) and a short ‘welcome to the museum’ in the Belonging Gallery on arrival.  

Self-led visits can be enhanced through the use of a range of free resources. A welcome film will show you what to expect when you arrive and downloadable resource packs are available to use before, during and after a self-led visit.  More self-led resources will be released throughout 2023. Sign up to our Secondary e-newsletter to find out more.

To book a self-led school visit, please complete our booking form.   

 

British Science Week celebration

14 and 15 March 2023  
Cost: Free  

Manchester Museum, in partnership with the Museum of Medicine and Health (part of the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health), will be hosting a science fair on 14 and 15 March. We hope to welcome up to 700 pupils over this spectacular two-day event.

Across the museum, you will find up to 40 stalls where you will encounter some of the latest research taking place across the University of Manchester. Your students will have the opportunity to find out about ground-breaking research from the researchers themselves, interact with science experiments, and get careers advice and inspiration from practicing scientists.

14 – 15 March 2023  

10am-12pm & 1-3pm

To request more information, please complete our enquiry form.

 

Monday Takeovers  

Cost: £250 per class

Led by the Learning Team and supported by Curators and Visitor Team, a carousel of activities focused on a particular theme will include: Gallery time, object handling, trails, meet the curator etc. Activities are designed to support the development of a range of skills and link to multiple subjects across the curriculum. 

Themes:

3 July – Global Sustainability 

17 July – South Asia Gallery  

More details about our Monday Takeovers will be released soon. Sign up to our Secondary & Post-16 e-newsletter to find out more.

To request more information, please complete our enquiry form.

 

Careers Support   

Cost: free 

We can offer careers support through our careers assemblies programme, or by popping up at careers fairs. We will introduce some of the different skills that you need to work in a museum and encourage students to celebrate and value their own talents that can be used for a fulfilling career.  

To request more information, please complete our enquiry form.

 

Museum Careers Resources  

Cost: Free

Our free online Careers Resources include downloadable inspiring films and practical advice that sheds light on the types of museum careers that are available to you. These resources capture the breadth of roles that museums offer and provide advice and guidance to support students to seek and apply for roles in the sector.  

Click here to find out more. 

Work Experience Placements

Manchester Museum is currently reviewing our Work Experience Placements offer, and unfortunately will be unable to accept any student placements until the next school year.

Sign up to our Secondary & Post-16 e-newsletter to find out more.

Carbon ruins

Imagine a future zero carbon world where we’ve learned to live more sustainably

In a Museum for the Future, what object would you include to show how society has changed to reach zero carbon? What is the story behind that object?

Carbon Ruins Manchester is our new project for KS2-4 that will create this exhibition, showing what a future museum would display.

We are calling for every school in Manchester to submit the object they would like to be displayed in the Carbon Ruins Manchester exhibition. Just like the ancient and extinct objects and specimens that you will find in Manchester Museum, the Carbon Ruins Manchester exhibition will display items that are familiar today but, in a fossil-free future world, will be obsolete. Your pupils and students will become the curators for this exhibition; selecting one single object that represents the change that they believe must happen in order for us to reach zero carbon.

 

Find out more and get involved

Things to know before you visit

Getting here   

There is a drop-off point for coaches outside the museum on Oxford Road. Mini buses can park at Cecil street car park. The museum is also on a major bus route and a short walk from rail and tram spots. Plan your visit here.

There is limited disabled parking available for school group transport. Please contact school.bookings@manchester.ac.uk to discuss this or include this information in your booking or enquiry.

Space for everyone   

  • All of our programming has been made with SEND in mind.
  • We are working on video tours and additional information to support students with SEND and help them prepare for a visit to the museum.
  • Our lifts offer step-free access to all museum spaces.
  • Please let us know of any access requirements when you book your visit.
  • More information on accessibility can be found here

Risk assessments and group visits   

  •  Our Museum Hazard ID document and General Site Risk Assessment are available to support you to produce your own risk assessment for your visit. You are welcome to arrange book a site visit ahead of your school visit to carry out your risk assessment and we are happy to arrange for you to meet a member of the team to discuss this: please email school.bookings@manchester.ac.uk to arrange this.
  • Teachers (or other accompanying adults) remain responsible for the general health and safety of children, as at school. Teachers (or other adults) should remain with their primary and secondary school groups at all times.
  • The minimum adult to pupil ratios that we recommend for schools visits is: 1:6 for Early Years & KS1; 1:8 for KS2, 1:15 for KS3, KS4 & Post-16. Note this excludes adults providing 1:1 support.

Facilities  

  • View the museum map here.
  • There is a picnic area and café on the ground floor next to the Main Hall. Space for school groups will be allocated for school groups through the booking process.
  • The Museum Shop is full of souvenirs inspired by our collections and prices start from 50p.
  • There is a water fountain in the Welcome area.
  • We are able to arrange for storage of coats, bags and lunches for school groups through the booking process.
  • We have lots of toilets throughout the museum including a fully accessible Changing Places toilet and all-gender toilets

Find more information to help plan your visit

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