text: The Postal Museum History Attraction School Trip London
  Address: The Postal Museum, 15-20 Phoenix Place, London, WC1X 0DA
  Contact: 020 8183 0064
  Website: https://www.postalmuseum.org/visit/for-schools/
  The Postal Museum: A brand new attraction for your school.
  500 years of social communications history revealed through the post. Five interactive galleries packed with incredible objects and exciting stories will engage the curiosity of pupils.
  Journey back in time on a specially-made train through the original tunnels and station platforms. Delve deeper into the nuts and bolts of Mail Rail in the interactive exhibition, housed in the original car depot.
  Stay and play in Sorted! a miniature mail-themed world for children aged 8 and under.
  Select from interactive workshops, science shows or storytelling sessions for all key stages. Get hands-on with original objects, investigate new ideas, overcome a challenge or solve a problem.
  Self-led school visits are supported by gallery trails and object handling sessions (upon request).
  Dedicated Learning Space, Lunch Room and lockable bag and coat storage.
  Teachers across the UK can download free learning resources to teach stories of communications innovation, social revolution, continuity and change in the classroom. Resources include teachers' notes, activities, PowerPoints and online games.
  https://www.youtube.com/user/PostalHeritage
  https://www.facebook.com/thepostalmuseum/
  https://twitter.com/thepostalmuseum/
  https://www.instagram.com/thepostalmuseum/
  From History, Maths, Geography, STEM, Literacy and Art and Design – a visit to The Postal Museum will stimulate enquiry-based learning across the curriculum.
  The postal service and its people helped to shape the modern world as we know it today. Inspire, excite and engage the next generation with the story of social communications.
  Discover stories of ground-breaking inventions including the Penny Black stamp and Colossus, a Second World War code-breaking machine and the first electronic computer. Get up close to iconic objects including an early mail coach and a green Victorian post box. Investigate quirky vehicles including a pentacycle, post bus and a pneumatic rail car. Read telegrams from the Titanic and poignant soldiers' letters from the Front Line and make personal connections to the national story of how a humble service revolutionised our lives.
  Take your pupils on an unforgettable experience through the original tunnels and station platforms of the post office underground railway. Visit the Mail Rail exhibition to explore the science and history behind the world's first electric railway and learn about the lives of the engineers who kept it running around the clock.
  Our action-packed interactive workshops enhance the learning experience and delve deeper into the postal past. Our team of experienced facilitators will provoke curiosity through hands-on interaction with original objects and stories. Our flexible approach can be adapted for your pupils and will develop critical thinking, problem-solving and communication skills.
  After your visit, extend the learning in the classroom with our free online learning resources.
  A typical visit lasts between 2 – 4 hours.
  Schools are encouraged book a Postal Package and make a day of it:
  Select a facilitated session
  Enjoy a self-led gallery trail through our exhibition
  Ride Mail Rail or stay and play in Sorted
  Use our lunch room and lockable coat and bag cupboards
  The Postal Museum can facilitate up to 3 classes of 30 pupils per day.
  Schools that book a visit will receive a Welcome Pack with information to support their visit including links to resources and activity ideas.
  The Postal Museum provides free online learning resources including videos, games, teachers' notes, activity ideas and PowerPoints. Learning resources can support facilitated sessions at the museum, or are available for teachers across the UK to download and use in their teaching.
  The Jolly Postman learning programme for EYFS and KS1 in partnership with Penguin Random House and endorsed by the National Literacy Trust
  Pop It In The Post and Last Post: The Postal Service in the First World War, History and Literacy resources for KS1 – 3 funded by Royal Mail
  Cracking Code Breakers and Mail Rail Challenges STEM and Computing resources for KS2 - 3 with British Science Association CREST SuperStar Challenges.
  Schools can photograph their visit and share their photos with us on social media, see links above.
  Teachers and group leaders will be sent a Welcome Pack including risk assessments for the museum and activities as part of the booking information.
  One teacher or group leader per class or group can make a familiarisation visit to do their own risk assessments.
  School workshops are delivered by facilitators and actors in role.
  Teachers can contact Sally Sculthorpe, Schools Learning Manager to ask questions about school visits. Email: schools@postalmuseum.org Call: 020 8183 0064
  Self-led visits cost £50 (plus VAT) administration fee, per class of 30
  This includes entry to The Postal Museum exhibition for pupils and adults within our ratios* (additional adults pay group rate entry).
  Self-led visits can request use of our Lunch Room (subject to availability)
  Postal Packages vary in cost.
  Facilitator-led sessions cost £100 or £120 (plus VAT) per class (£4 or £4.80 per pupil for an average class of 30 (inc. VAT)
  Mail Rail ride - £3.50 per pupil and adults with ratios (additional adults pay group rates - £12.50)
  Sorted! - £90 per class, up to 35 pupils (£3 per pupil for average class of 30)
  Entry to The Postal Museum is included in the cost of a facilitated session.
  Bring more than one class and get a discount on your facilitated session.
  The below discount rates apply:
  1 session = £100 plus VAT - 1 session = £120 plus VAT
  2 sessions = £120 plus VAT - 2 sessions = £220 plus VAT
  3 sessions = £250 plus VAT - 3 sessions = £300 plus VAT
  Flexible versions of our facilitated sessions are available for the discounted rate of £50 (plus VAT)
  *Adult:child ratios are available on our website.
  Most schools choose to book a facilitated session and Mail Rail ride, or Sorted! This is a cost of between £6 – £8.50 per pupil (varies depending on VAT position, and additional class discount).
  Yes. Visitor Hosts and Schools team are qualified first aiders.
  There are First Aid rooms, Changing Space rooms, and accessible toilets in The Postal Museum and Mail Rail.
  The Postal Museum is split across two sites, separated by a road with a zebra crossing. All school groups must arrive at The Postal Museum Welcome Space.
  • Welcome Space, exhibitions, shop, café, changing spaces room and accessible toilets are on the ground floor.
  • Learning Space for facilitated sessions, Lunch Room (Prayer room) and lockable bag and coat cupboards are on the first floor accessed by stairs or lift.
  • Outdoor Courtyard with a canopy where schools can eat lunch on sunny days.
  • Welcome Space, shop, first aid room and entrance to Sorted! are on street level.
  • Mail Rail exhibitions, ride, accessible Mail Rail show, changing places room, and accessible disabled toilets are below ground and accessed by stairs or lift.
  • Entrance to Sorted! on right-hand side of Mail Rail Welcome Space.
  • Accessible toilets and bench seating.
  Sorted! is accessible to children with physical disabilities apart from the upper deck of the sorting office play area where pupils may need additional support.
  Changing Places rooms are available in The Postal Museum and Mail Rail with changing facilities, a toilet, bed and hoist. This room can be used as a quiet space upon request.
  Mail Rail Accessible Show is available for visitors who would prefer not to ride Mail Rail for access reasons.
  Monday – Sunday (school visits Monday – Friday)
  'A fun way to learn about a famous Victorian and a communications revolution.' Class 3 teacher (Pop It In the Post workshop)
  'Educational and entertaining. It brought to life a hidden part of our local history'. Year 4 teacher (Mail Rail ride and Mail Rail Science Show)
  'Inspirational! We saw how engineering problems can be overcome with the minimum of equipment!' Year 6 class teacher (Cracking Code Breakers workshop)
  The Postal Museum is a brand-new attraction for Autumn term 2017. If you have questions about our schools programme or would like help to plan your visit get in touch with us:
  schools@postalmuseum.org 020 8183 0064
  Type of Visit: Arts & Galleries Heritage Railways Historic Buildings Historical Heritage Museums SEN Storytelling Themed Attractions
  Curriculum Topics Covered: Art and Design Citizenship Design and Technology Drama English Engineering Geography History ICT Mathematics Science STEM