UK SCHOOLS PROGRAMME 2022/2023

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is delighted to offer its programme of interactive learning opportunities and resources to enthuse and inspire learners of all ages and abilities. Using our world-class ships, collections, expertise and facilities, our programmes provide unique and unforgettable learning experiences. Our site-based activities combine inspiring hands-on experiences with innovative digital resources to bring subjects to life.

DISCOVERY VISIT

A Discovery Visit is a teacher led self-guided museum visit to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, Mary Rose or HMS M.33.  We are excited to be able to offer you a choice of Discovery Visit combined with a Discovery Challenge pack for pupils and a teacher trail to support your visit. This means you can tailor your school visit to suit your curriculum, visiting multiple attractions under the same ticket. And in addition, a visit to the National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries is included with any UK school visit booked.

DISCOVER MORE

There is now even more to explore with our Discover More offer.

Teachers can book this enhanced visit which includes a choice of Discovery Visit plus the choice of themed Discovery Chest and supporting Discovery Back Pack. Inside each Discovery Chest are suggested activities and resources designed to encourage pupil led enquiry to answer key topic questions within a chosen museum gallery. The Discover More Back Packs are portable activity packs for use on HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860 or HMS M.33. Each pack contains a set of challenges and resources that encourage observation, discussion and imagination to support historical enquiry and creative writing. The Mary Rose also offers a Discover More option with an introductory talk and a glimpse behind the scenes at the reserve collection of artefacts not on show to the public. The museum team will help teachers orientate themselves ready to lead the class around the museum confidently

DISCOVER MORE LIVE

Discover More Live is a brand new new offer introducing a gallery-facilitated session with museum staff combined with a teacher self-led visit on a ship. Your school will have the opportunity to interact with costumed interpreters, handle real & replica artefacts and witness conservation in action.

For further details about the full programme on offer, please download the brochure below.

PRICING

Attractions to choose from are: HMS Victory, HMS Warrior, Mary Rose and HMS M.33. The National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries are included for all UK school visits. The Harbour Tour is only available as part of the Ultimate Explorer ticket which gives access to all our attractions.

Discovery Visits KS1-KS4
One Attraction £5 per pupil
Two Attraction £8 per pupil
Three Attraction £12 per pupil
Discover More Visits KS1-KS4
One Attraction £6 per pupil
Two Attraction £9 per pupil
Ultimate Explorer £13 per pupil
Accompanying Free Adult

For health and safety and supervision, we require KS1-3 to
have 1 free adult for every 5 pupils (while Covid restrictions apply).

 

 

Post Covid restrictions; 
KS1:1 free adult per 5 pupils,
KS2: 1 free adult per 10 pupils,
KS3: 1 free adult per 15 pupils

Discover More Live Visits KS1-KS4
Ultimate Explorer £13 per pupil

All group tickets are valid for one day only.

RESOURCES

To support your Discovery Visit at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, please download our Teachers Guide, Teachers Trail and Discovery Challenge Pack.

MORE INFORMATION

HOW CAN I BOOK?

To make your school booking, please complete the below booking request form.

UK school visits are required to be booked at least 7 days in advance. Schools not booked in advance cannot be accepted.

To qualify for a UK school rate, a group must consist of a minimum of 12 paying persons.

Contact information:

Email: phd.learning@nmrn.org.uk

Telephone: 02392839766 (opt 3)

DO YOU HAVE LUNCH FACILITIES?

An indoor area is available in Boathouse 7 for groups with packed lunches.

As space is limited booking is required. Food and drink is not allowed anywhere in the attractions other than in the dedicated lunch room.

There are no facilities on site to store lunch boxes.

ACCESSIBILITY

HMS Victory: One of the decks of HMS Victory is accessible with a handling activity and virtual tour available to enhance visits. Touch tours and Audio Descriptive tours are also available. We have multi-sensory kitbags for use in galleries. Wheelchairs, magnifying glasses and large print text can also be arranged in advance.

HMS Warrior: The ship is accessed via a ramp. Because she is still afloat the gradient can change with the tides and we would recommend entering at low tide if that is a concern, tide times can be accessed by visiting our accessibility section.

HMS M.33: The is more accessible than some of her older counterparts. Wheelchair access to the lower deck is available via a lift and upper deck stairs are more generously spaced. There are some steep stairs in place and our Audio Visual Experience does not have subtitles and can be dark and upsetting for some.

The National Museum of the Royal Navy Galleries: The National Museum of the Royal Navy galleries are fully accessible to wheelchair users including a lift and toilets in every gallery.

The Mary Rose: The Museum is fully accessible by wheelchair, and the museum houses a wheelchair accessible toilet. Lifts are available to move along the visitor route. Information and guides are available in large print formats. We also offer sensory resources, including tactile plans and paintings of the ship. Visitors are also welcome to handle certain artefacts, both historical objects and replicas. The light levels in the museum are kept low for conservation purposes, so if you have any issues please speak to a member of our team and they will help you with your journey. There is an audio loop system in exhibition spaces. We also provide transcripts and subtitles for the audio visual content in most areas. All guide and assistance dogs are most welcome.

Harbour Tour: Two manual wheelchair spaces are available on the Harbour Tours service (depending on the vessel).

Accessible toilets are available in the National Museum of the Royal Navy, Boathouse No.7, and The Mary Rose. Adult changing facilities are available in the Mary Rose disabled toilets.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

The site and all activities are fully risk assessed and subject to safeguarding and health and safety policies. For further guidance around facilities at our site can be found in the below documents:

Hazard/RA Document – PDF

CAN I MAKE A PREMLIMINARY VISIT?

We strongly advise a preliminary visit in order to familiarise yourself with the site and complete risk assessment paperwork. For groups already booked you will need to bring the booking reference as proof. On arrival you will issued with up to 3 adult tickets or at weekends and holidays 1 family ticket. For groups that haven’t yet booked only 1 ticket will be available for the school.

WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE?

Our maximum number for a Discovery Visit is 120 students. Our maximum number for a Discover More! visit is approx. 35 students.

WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE VISIT LENGTH?

The recommended visit length for each of our attractions is between 60 and 90 minutes. For a Discover More! visit, you have access to your chosen Discovery Chest and back pack for the day so you can tailor the length of the visit to suit your requirements.

WHAT ARE THE RATIOS FOR GROUP SUPERVISION?

We offer free access to supervising staff members during your visit, with ratios relevant to the age of your group (found within the ‘prices’ section). We do ask that large groups divide into smaller groups to move around our attractions and gallery spaces to avoid overcrowding.

HOW DO I FIND PORTSMOUTH HISTORIC DOCKYARD?

Portsmouth Historic Dockyard is located within Portsmouth Naval Base, Portsmouth, PO1 3LJ with entry through Victory Gate at the corner of Queen Street.

A Drop off/pick up point at The Hard and coach parking facilities provided by Portsmouth City Council can be arranged at time of booking. Price £7.50

LEARNING ENQUIRY FORM

(If Applicable)