Schools Services

In order to help our staff and to avoid overcrowding the venues we ask that organisers contact the Museum or Mansion before visiting.

Where possible, we encourage teachers to make a preparatory visit to the site to conduct their own risk assessments and to familiarise themselves with the collections. This also applies to those planning to take part in our Schools Educational Workshops.

To book

Telephone: 01474 433550
Email: museums.service@ipswich.gov.uk

To discuss your requirements with the Access and Learning Officer:
Telephone: 01473 433570
Email: rachel.macfarlane@colchester.gov.uk

Ipswich Museum

• Open 10.00 - 17.00, Tuesday - Saturday;
• Disabled access and facilities;
• Lunchroom by arrangement;
• Coaches set down/pick up outside the Museum;
• Nearest coach parking - Crown Street lay-by;
• Admission free - small charge applies to School Education Workshops.

Christchurch Mansion

• Opening 10.00 - 17.00, Monday to Sunday;
• Fonnereau's Tea Room serves snacks, hot and cold beverages;
• Lunchroom by arrangement, or lunches can be eaten in the park;
• Wheelchair access and facilities restricted to the ground floor;
• Coaches set down/pick up at Soane Street or Bolton Lane;
• Nearest coach parking - Crown Street lay-by;
• Admission free - small charge applies to School Education Workshops.

Risk Assessments for both venues are available on request.

Schools Education Workshops

There are currently five workshops available for Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. All workshops are run by trained activity leaders and give pupils the chance to interact with and handle aspects of the collections that they could not on a general visit.

Key Stage 2 workshops last two hours.
Key Stage 1 workshops are a little shorter.

1. Toy Story - at Christchurch Mansion
   An introduction to history for Year 1 pupils who compare their modern toys with playthings of the past. Children see and get to handle some genuine Victorian toys. And they all help to complete a giant timeline jigsaw showing how toys from our collection have changed over the last 100 years. The workshop touches a number of Units within the Curriculum.
2. Ruffs & Stuff - at Christchurch Mansion
   The Tudor chambers and exquisite painted closet at Christchurch Mansion provide the perfect setting for Key Stage 2 pupils to use their eyes, ears, and imaginations and find out about Tudor life from the objects and pictures on display. Replica costume and objects are used to help pupils interpret the clues to the past.
3. Victorian Home - at Christchurch Mansion
   An Upstairs and Downstairs look at Victorian life, set in the Victorian Wing of Christchurch Mansion where pupils get to handle genuine household artefacts from the collection. Real Victorian costume is used alongside replica clothing as the children discover how life - and homes - have changed. The workshop is aimed at Key Stage 2 pupils, but a Key Stage 1 version is available by arrangement.
4. Ipswich At War - at Ipswich Museum
   This Key Stage 2 workshop uses the Ipswich at War exhibition at Ipswich Museum as a basis from which to explore what life was like during the Second World War and how it has changed. A model house and genuine items of WW2 costume and artefacts help children to build up a picture of wartime family life on the Home Front. And there are hands-on opportunities to use a stirrup pump, work a typewriter and send a message in Morse Code.
5. NEW Scarabs and Shabtis - at Ipswich Museum
   All day action for Key Stage 2 where children discover what life (and the Afterlife) was like for the Ancent Egyptians. Exporing the finds from Egyptain tombs the childern find out about the embalming process and using masks and role play, take the dead Pharaoh to the afterlife. Using the interactive sensory obelisk and dressing up the children learn how life could, smell, sound and feel in Ancient Egypt. In the afternoon the children learn about the environment of Ancient and Modern Egypt and Africa, looking at its animals and the art they inspire.

There is a small charge for these workshops but we keep our costs as low as possible.

To book or for futher information please contact us on 01473 433550.

To discuss the requirements for your class please contact the Access and Learning Officer:
Tel: 01473 433570
Email: rachel.macfarlane@colchester.gov.uk