We offer a wide range of learning opportunities for formal and informal groups, including hands-on object-based sessions closely linked to the curriculum and needs of local schools.
To arrange a visit please fill in our school visits enquiry form.
Options for school group visits
There are two choices open to groups visiting the museum:
- Object handling workshops (£4 per student or group member, a minimum charge of £75)
- Gallery-only visits (£2.00 admin fee per student or group member, free for schools and FE colleges in Oxfordshire if pre-booked)
All groups are advised to read our MOX Group booking briefing pack which contains all the relevant information about visiting the museum.
Schoolchildren in the museum gallery using an interactive.
Workshop topics available
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Stories from the Grave: Anglo-Saxon Oxford – KS2
Step into Anglo-Saxon Oxford with our interactive workshop. Students explore artefacts, dress in replica costumes, and uncover Anglo-Saxon Oxford through engaging activities. From archaeological insights to gallery scavenger hunts, this session aligns with KS2 History, encouraging critical thinking and group discussion. This session uses hands-on experiences and guided exploration, ensuring a memorable and educational journey into the past. This session comes with a pre and post-session resource pack, see the information pack below for more details.
Download the Anglo-Saxon Oxford Workshop information pack.
Download the free Stories from the Grave Anglo-Saxon Oxford Pre-Visit Resource Pack.
Anglo-Saxon Oxford Worksheet. This work pack supports your pupils’ visit, please download and print copies should you wish to use them.
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Made in Oxford – KS2
Which person from Oxford has made the greatest impact on History? ‘Made in Oxford’ is a KS2 workshop that explores 10 amazing people from Oxford who influenced the city, country, and the wider world. In small groups, pupils will use evidence, objects, and the Museum’s displays to research, prepare and pitch an argument for their chosen famous person being the most important. This workshop develops pupils’ evidence-handling, persuasive language and teamwork skills. The session ends in a class-wide vote to decide who was Oxford’s finest.
Download the Made in Oxford teacher pack for more information.
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Moving Oxford – KS1 & KS2
Why is Oxford the shape it is? Moving Oxford looks at how the city of Oxford grew around its transport, the people involved, and how this may change in the future. This session uses transport-related handling objects and maps to help the pupils answer these questions.
A remote version of this workshop is available. Please see below for more information.
Download the Moving Oxford teacher pack for more information.
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The Dark Side of the Victorians: Children on Trial – KS2
Every student has a part to play in this re-enactment of a Victorian trial of four real-life children aged between 7 and 15. From defendant to witness, barrister to Jury, we will provide character outlines and a script for your class to follow, and a member of the museum’s team will support the session as the Court Clerk. You can even play the Judge! This workshop takes place in the original Court Room of the Town Hall. A visit to the new Museum galleries can also be included on request.
Download the workshop teacher pack for more information.
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Unearthed – Museum or Outreach Workshop
How do we know about the past? Our Unearthed Outreach Workshop explores what we can discover using archaeological finds. This outreach session is delivered by a museum staff member in the Museum or your school and uses original historical objects from a wide range of eras. In total, there are 90 handling objects, all typical things found in archaeological digs. They come in 10 separate boxes allowing a whole class to work in small groups on their own set of historical objects.
For more information download the Unearthed Outreach Workshop info pack, fill out an enquiry form or contact the education team.
Loan boxes:
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A Nice Cup of Tea
We also have loan boxes for schools to borrow. This box explores the connections between the simple cup of tea, the British Empire, the slave trade, and the Windrush Generation. The box contains original objects and suggested activities around citizenship, English, and history. For more information about hire costs and how to borrow a box, please contact the education team.
Gallery only visits
- We charge a £2.00 admin fee per person for self-led gallery-only group visits.
- School groups from Oxfordshire are exempt from this charge if pre-booked.
- We may not be able to accommodate a group visit if not booked in advance.
- We have an Oxford Trough Time downloadable worksheet suitable for older children that you can print and bring with you. We can also arrange for copies to be printed, and be available ready for your arrival; this costs £1 per copy and we will need 7 days’ notice to make the arrangements.
To arrange a visit please fill in our school visits enquiry form or email museum@oxford.gov.uk if you have a general enquiry.
Workshops coming soon
- World War II Oxford – NEW for Summer term 2024. Available to book now.
The following are workshops that could be developed, please get in touch for more information:
- Time Detectives: an investigation of the evidence from Oxford’s past
- Romans in Oxford
- Medieval Rubbish
- A City At War: Civil War Oxford
- Alice in Wonderland (various themes including geography & mapping, the story behind the story, and Victorian childhood)
- Victorian Wash Day Blues
- From Bike to BMW: How a car factory changed a city.
We would also like to work with secondary school teachers to develop new content for group visits, out-of-school research topics, and English as a second language resources. We can also work with schools to help develop new workshop themes and ideas for group visits.
If you would like to work with our team to develop new ideas, please get in touch with the Museum team.