We are open all year for UK school visits by pre-appointment. We offer special ‘home-educator’ days for home-educating families to experience the museum during term time. We have a loans box service for UK Schools and have updated our workshops to complement a museum visit. Our learning offer is adaptable for all needs and we will discuss any special requirements your students have during the booking process.  

 

A group of school children, all wearing high visibility vests over their school jumpers are sitting on the floor facing towards a white female with short brown hair, wearing a blue jumper and jeans.

School Visits

A visit to the museum offers children a tactile, engaging and fun experience

A group of school children are sitting on red sofas with colourful display boards behind them. They're all looking at A3 size pieces of paper and looking into a large plastic box containing a skull and lower jaws of animals.

Loans Boxes

Bring the Museum to your classroom with one of our loans boxes

A white female is crouched on a green animal themed rug, turning the pages of a book which is held by a young child with white skin tone and fair, ginger hair colour sitting on the rug. The young child is looking away from the book. In the background are some colourful chairs.

SEND

We have put together a variety of resources to help plan visits for SEND students, ensuring their experience is tailored to their needs

Home Educators

Take a look at our home educators page for the latest open days. Open days are planned in collaboration with home educator networks.

A photograph of a plastic milk bottle hanging in a tree with blossom on the branches and green grass on the ground. The milk bottle has multi coloured spots all over it and some arch shaped holes cut in towards the bottom with green colour round the arches. The arches are big enough to allow for birds to fly in. There is a twig pushed through the bottom, level with the bottom of the arch sharped holes, as a perch for birds and some seed can just be seen at the bottom of the milk bottle.

Learning Resources

Explore our learning resources full of historical facts, insights and fun activities. Created to support teaching and learning in the galleries, the classroom and at home.

Important Notice for Schools: Disruptions to School Visits Due to Roof Repair Project

 

Dear Teachers and Educators,

 

We want to inform you that our museum is undergoing essential roof repairs as part of the MEND Roof Project, which will be taking place from now until May 2025. During this period, there will be disruptions to our usual school visit experience, as some galleries will be temporarily closed or have limited access.

We are working closely with contractors to ensure that these works cause minimal impact on your school visits, and we are committed to offering alternative arrangements where possible. However, please note that some areas, including key galleries, may not be accessible during this time. If your planned visit is affected, our team will contact you to discuss options.

For schools looking to book visits between now and April, we recommend getting in touch with us directly to confirm gallery availability and plan your visit accordingly. We are happy to help you navigate the closures and ensure that your students still enjoy a valuable and educational experience.

Thank you for your understanding and patience as we complete these essential repairs. We look forward to welcoming you and your students back for an exciting and uninterrupted experience once the project is complete.

For any questions or assistance in booking, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at learning@powell-cottonmuseum.org

 

Best regards,

Emma-Jayne

Head of Learning

 

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Meet the learning team

When you contact our learning team you will talk to:

Emma-Jayne Hamlington

Head of Learning

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens

Alison Day

Alison Day

Learning and Engagement Officer

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens

Janice Le Corney

Learning and Engagement Officer

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens

A photo portrait of a white female with fair brown hair in a plait to one side. The lady is looking at the camera with a slight smile and wears a green scarf and maroon shirt.

Emily Anderson

Loans Box Coordinator

Powell-Cotton Museum, Quex House and Gardens

Calling all Home Educators! Join us on Thursday 27th June, for a hands-on workshop where you'll learn to create beautiful and unique prints using plants and flowers. Dive into the magical world of cyanotypes and experiment with various techniques that bring your prints to life with vibrant blue tones and intricate details.

Additional prints may have a small charge. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing for our outdoor adventure.

We look forward to seeing you there! Let your creativity bloom!  #Learning #HomeEducators #homeeducatorskent 
@Visit Kent @Visit Thanet- Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate @Kent Attractions

Calling all Home Educators! Join us on Thursday 27th June, for a hands-on workshop where you`ll learn to create beautiful and unique prints using plants and flowers. Dive into the magical world of cyanotypes and experiment with various techniques that bring your prints to life with vibrant blue tones and intricate details.

Additional prints may have a small charge. Please wear weather-appropriate clothing for our outdoor adventure.

We look forward to seeing you there! Let your creativity bloom! #Learning #HomeEducators #homeeducatorskent
@Visit Kent @Visit Thanet- Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate @Kent Attractions
...

Did you attend our Home Education Event in April - Frankenfruit? 

We'd love to see how your plants are doing! 

Janice from our Learning Team has shared her plant with us to show how much it has grown.... so big that she had to re-pot it!

How big are your plants? Share your photos below.

 #Learning

Did you attend our Home Education Event in April - Frankenfruit?

We`d love to see how your plants are doing!

Janice from our Learning Team has shared her plant with us to show how much it has grown.... so big that she had to re-pot it!

How big are your plants? Share your photos below.

#Learning
...

Calling all nature lovers!

Join us for our next home educators' day on Thursday May 23rd. Explore our gardens to discover the brilliant birds who live here and make your own feeder to take home and lay on a feast for your feathered friends.

#Learning #Creative #Nature

@VisitKent @VisitThanet @BestKentAttractions

Calling all nature lovers!

Join us for our next home educators` day on Thursday May 23rd. Explore our gardens to discover the brilliant birds who live here and make your own feeder to take home and lay on a feast for your feathered friends.

#Learning #Creative #Nature

@VisitKent @VisitThanet @BestKentAttractions
...

Time is running out, and spaces are filling up fast for school visits this year!

If you're eager to enhance your Science, Art, English, History, Geography, or PSHE lessons in a unique setting, don't delay. Visit our website or give our friendly Learning Team a call today to secure your spot before it's too late.

#Learning 

@VisitKent @VisitThanet @BestKentAttractions

Time is running out, and spaces are filling up fast for school visits this year!

If you`re eager to enhance your Science, Art, English, History, Geography, or PSHE lessons in a unique setting, don`t delay. Visit our website or give our friendly Learning Team a call today to secure your spot before it`s too late.

#Learning

@VisitKent @VisitThanet @BestKentAttractions
...

When visiting us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, meet our special guest, Kate from RSPB! Explore Kate’s interactive wildlife display showcasing different habitats and learn all about the fascinating creatures that call them home. Learn about RSPB’s conservation efforts, educational programs, and explore the wonders of local reserves. Join RSPB in protecting our precious wildlife and spreading awareness for a greener, healthier planet!

#Learning #WildlifeConvservation #Easter

@rspb @visitthanet @visitkent @kentattractions

When visiting us on Good Friday and Easter Sunday, meet our special guest, Kate from RSPB! Explore Kate’s interactive wildlife display showcasing different habitats and learn all about the fascinating creatures that call them home. Learn about RSPB’s conservation efforts, educational programs, and explore the wonders of local reserves. Join RSPB in protecting our precious wildlife and spreading awareness for a greener, healthier planet!

#Learning #WildlifeConvservation #Easter

@rspb @visitthanet @visitkent @kentattractions
...

Calling all parents and guardians of under 5s! Join us on Friday 15th March, for the kick-off of our Friendly Fridays in collaboration with Surestart Children’s Centres. Bring your little ones for a day of fun, learning, and laughter, exploring the animal kingdom through stories and play. Discover animals that awake when the sun goes down and follow the trail to see how many nocturnal creatures you can find.
 
#Learning

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions

Calling all parents and guardians of under 5s! Join us on Friday 15th March, for the kick-off of our Friendly Fridays in collaboration with Surestart Children’s Centres. Bring your little ones for a day of fun, learning, and laughter, exploring the animal kingdom through stories and play. Discover animals that awake when the sun goes down and follow the trail to see how many nocturnal creatures you can find.

#Learning

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
...

We continue to celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with our Female of the Species tours every weekend throughout March. Embark on a journey of empowerment and discovery with our female-focused tour, where you'll uncover the surprising pursuit of women as hunters and collectors as well as learning about the artisans that created our newest collection, Nambian Narratives. Tours are included with your standard admission ticket.

#WomensHistoryMonth #InternationalWomensDay #Learning #ReimaginingTheMuseum #MuseumMaker 

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions

We continue to celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with our Female of the Species tours every weekend throughout March. Embark on a journey of empowerment and discovery with our female-focused tour, where you`ll uncover the surprising pursuit of women as hunters and collectors as well as learning about the artisans that created our newest collection, Nambian Narratives. Tours are included with your standard admission ticket.

#WomensHistoryMonth #InternationalWomensDay #Learning #ReimaginingTheMuseum #MuseumMaker

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
...

Happy #WorldBookDay! 

From thrilling adventures to heartwarming stories, there's something for every book lover to enjoy in the Museum Shop! Stop by on our upcoming weekend open day to explore the selection of books we have to offer.

#Learning #WorldBookDay #MuseumShop

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions

Happy #WorldBookDay!

From thrilling adventures to heartwarming stories, there`s something for every book lover to enjoy in the Museum Shop! Stop by on our upcoming weekend open day to explore the selection of books we have to offer.

#Learning #WorldBookDay #MuseumShop

@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
...