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Fleet Air Arm Museum School Programme

Arrange a visit

Welcome to the Schools Programme for the Fleet Air Arm Museum, the home of Royal Naval Flying. The museum’s collection is an unparalleled resource of innovative technology, personal stories and historic objects, to bring the curriculum to life. 

The museum offers a range of stimulating activities for all ages, making learning relevant and engaging throughout our four halls.

Mother and sons look up at a Royal Navy aircraft

Discovery Visit

Our Discovery Visit package is a teacher-led trip around the museum, allowing for a more flexible visit with regards to students, timings and your own activities.

Groups will be offered thematic Discovery Trails to support their visit, highlighting some key areas within the museum and prompting specific thinking around them. 

School child looking at propeller

Discover More

Discover More ignites curiosity in young minds! This teacher-led program tailors the museum experience for primary school children. Explore curated exhibits with age-appropriate explanations, sparking engagement and igniting a love of learning. 

On top of holistically themed trails, pupils doing a Discover More visit will have exclusive activity stations to explore located throughout the museum. These stations contain activities such as dressing up, thematic puzzles, replica objects- all themed around a chosen topic.

 

School Children Holding Model Aircraft

Discover Live

These facilitated sessions put your class in the action. Join museum experts for exclusive events, projects, and anniversary celebrations. Explore newly restored artefacts, or become a history detective!

Discover Live goes beyond the ropes, offering immersive experiences that spark curiosity. But hurry, these sessions vanish faster than museum treasures! Book yours and unlock a unique museum adventure.

Students looking at a model

Secondary Engineering Challenge Event Days

Spark a love for engineering with sponsored challenges! Students build epic creations (think mini earthquake bridges!) using everyday materials. They'll solve problems, design solutions, and master teamwork and communication. 

These free sessions include challenges which cover aspects of design, simple mechanics and electrical circuits and will involve the students purchasing materials to build their model from scratch. Check for new dates throughout the academic year. 

Discounted Travel and Bursary

Book a visit to The Fleet Air Arm Museum with South West Coaches and receive 20% off your coach travel. Please contact South West Coaches directly and quote “FAAM20”.

The Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum is also delighted to offer a travel bursary for full or part payment for travel to and from the museum, up to a maximum of £450 (+VAT) per primary school per academic year. 

Planning and booking your school visit

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

UK school visits are required to be booked at least 7 days in advance.

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

All school tickets are valid for one day only

Discovery Visit (KS1 - KS5)£4.50
Discover More (KS1 - KS2)£5.50
Discover Live (KS2 - KS5)£4.50 per pupil + £80 per one hour workshop (30 pupils max)
Engineering Challenge Days (KS3 - KS5)Free (subject to avaliability)
Teachers/LeadersFree at a ratio of 1 to every 5 pupils

An indoor eating area is available for groups with packed lunches and can be pre-booked along with the rest of your visit. During the summer months groups are invited to use the large grassed area at the front of the museum where they may eat packed lunches. Primary pupils may use the adventure playground.

School specific risk assessments, health & safety and accessibility guidelines are available within our downloadable Teachers Welcome Pack* which can be found here: 

*Owing to recent layout changes in the museum, the aircraft location fact sheets are out of date.

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.

Our maximum numbers for each visit are:

  • Discovery Visit: 120 students
  • Discover More visit: 60 students 
  • Discover Live: 30 students per workshop

We recommend allowing at least 2 hours for a self-guided Discovery Visit and 3 hours for a Discover More visit. This does not include a break for lunch/snacks. 

We offer free access to supervising staff members during your visit, with a ratio of 1 adult to every 5 students. We require a minimum supervising ratio as follows:

  • KS1 = 1 adult to every 5 students
  • KS2 = KS4 = 1 adult to every 12 students
  • KS5 = 1 adult to every 15 students

When navigating the museum, we ask that these ratios are maintained within small groups.

In order to receive the bursary, your school is required meet the following criteria:

  • Be a primary school within a BA, TA, DT or SP Postcode.
  • Not have received support from the Travel Bursary within the same academic year.
  • 15% or more pupils eligible for Free School Meals.

How does it work?

  1. Book a school visit to the Fleet Air Arm Museum
  2. Apply for the bursary using the below application form, submitting at least 28 days before your visit. Please note that the bursaries are awarded on a first come first served basis.
  3. Once we have received your application, we will inform you if your application has been successful and confirm the amount of the award. Please note that once the bursary has been awarded, the school pays the travel costs in the first instance.
  4. Once you have completed your visit, the museum will reimburse the agreed costs on receipt of a completed evaluation form, payment of the trip itself, and an invoice from you with a copy of the coach invoice or receipt. Please note that, should you need to cancel your trip or rearrange your trip, the museum would not reimburse any coach fees associated (e.g. deposit/admin fees to the coach companies), and you may be required to reapply for the bursary.

Applications for the bursary will not be considered any sooner than 9 months in advance of your visit, but with limited funding available please don’t delay too much.

Submit ApplicationThis Travel Bursary is only made possible through the generosity of the Society of Friends of the Fleet Air Arm Museum. A thriving and active organisation, its object is the education of the public by promotion, support, assistance and improvement of the museum through the activities of a group of members. For more information about the organisation and its events, visit www.fleetairarmfriends.org.uk.

Book Your Visit

Plan your unforgettable group or school visit! Our dedicated Groups & Schools office is ready to assist you. They can help and answer any questions. 

Contact them Monday-Friday, 9:30 AM - 4:30 PM to secure your spot. 

Keep up to date!

To keep up to date with the latest information regarding the Fleet Air Arm Museum’s learning programme

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