Education
Education Team
Welcome to the National Railway Museum Education team…
The Education Department is one of the largest museum education departments in the country and provides a varied experience to approximately 50,000 learners every year!
Whether you are looking for a learning opportunity to help deliver the National Curriculum, a day to celebrate the end of term or a visit with an ‘Out of School’ group we can guarantee you that your group will have an inspiring, educational and enjoyable experience.
Our stunning collection provides endless opportunities to study machines that changed the world, to learn about the people who built, worked and travelled on the railways and to experiment via interactive exhibits throughout the Museum.
We offer activities for young and old. From Early Years visitors enjoying pre-booked story sack sessions or dressing up as Victorian children to Secondary School pupils experimenting with magnets to investigate the Maglev train technology or finding out more about how the NRM ticks using our Leisure and Tourism web resource.
We also have a range of subject-specific and cross-curricular programmes for KS1-2. Track Safety to the Flying Scotsman, The science and history behind the railways to ‘Live’ Theatre we have lots of things to educate and inspire you and your group in fun and interactive ways! Children can build an arched bridge and discover what keeps a train on the tracks; a wealth of knowledge and enjoyment can be gained from time spent in the Interactive Learning Centre (ILC).
We don’t stop there… the world’s largest railway museum has lots more to offer. Find out about Queen Victoria’s Carriage and how it has been conserved or follow our World War II trails around the Museum. Write and post your own postcard in our Mail by Rail exhibit or investigate the railways of Japan on the Shinkansen, our very own Japanese Bullet Train.
Pre-book our Study coach and Education ‘Lunch’ Coach and take advantage of our outdoor play and picnic areas, miniature railway and FREE coach parking (pre-booking required).
We also have a changing programme of special Education Events including Platform 4 Theatre - celebrated short plays bringing history to life! Suitable for KS2 - 3. Also not to be missed annual Science Week celebrations (March), Family Learning Week (October) and Art events linked to national initiatives such as the Big Draw and Children’s Art Day.
With all this on offer (most of it FREE) what’s stopping you? The Education Team and I look forward to seeing you soon at the National Railway Museum.
Tony Simons
Education Manager