School visits
Our education objectives
Our aims are more than visitor enjoyment, our mission is conservation through education. Our objectives are:
- To inform and stimulate greater interest in Britain’s native wildlife and increase awareness of the need and means to conserve it and its habitats.
- To place public education at the heart of everything we do and make it a key part in every visitor’s experience.
- To develop facilities for schools and other educational organisations to conduct teaching and field studies.
- To advance our own knowledge of British wildlife and share this with both the public and the scientific community.
Bring your teaching to life!
With our collection of over forty different species of native wild animals and our team of knowledgeable keepers, the British Wildlife Centre offers the ideal venue to learn about Britain’s own wonderful wildlife. To provide a safe environment the Centre will be closed to the public during your visit. Depending on your group size other pre-booked schools may be visiting.
School Visits: Reception to Year 7 - 'Animal Encounters'
Our ‘Animal Encounters’ schools programmes are designed to complement a variety of national curriculum skills and topics in science, history and geography for pupils at Key Stages 1, 2 & 3. These visits are based at the Centre with its collection of over forty different British wild animals and birds. This is a unique opportunity for children to learn about Britain’s wildlife – a real life natural history lesson! Our minimum school group size is 25 children (you may bring smaller groups but our minimum charge will be for 25 children). Our maximum number is 90. Dates in the spring and summer terms get booked up to a year in advance, so the earlier you can book, the better your chances of visiting on your preferred date. We are now taking bookings for the 2025/2026 academic year.
Fees
SEPTEMBER 2024 – JULY 2025: £11 per pupil
SEPTEMBER 2025 – JULY 2026: £12 per pupil
One teacher/adult free for every 8 children. Adults over this ratio are charged at the child rate.
School visits in brief
Pre-Visit
- Just call or email us to check availability of dates
- Complete an online booking confirmation form
- Recce visit for teachers in advance, if required (by prior arrangement)
- Visit risk assessment document available
On the Day
- The Centre will be closed to the public during your visit, ensuring a safe, inspiring and focused trip
- Each group has a dedicated keeper to escort them throughout the tour and provide age-appropriate animal talks
- One teacher free for every 8 children
- All breaks are taken in one of our shaded or covered picnic areas
- Drop-off facility for local schools: by prior arrangement, pupils may be dropped off from 9am onwards by parents/teachers to wait in our outdoor picnic area until the tour starts at 10am. Adult supervision required at all times.
How to book
Before completing a school visit booking form please contact us first to check availability and make a provisional booking:
By Phone 01342 834658 (office hours)
By Email info@britishwildlifecentre.co.uk
complete School Visit Booking Confirmation Form
Animal Encounters School Visit Leaflet
download Risk Assessment – Animal Encounters
Please note: Our Animal Encounters school visits are suitable for Reception classes up to Year 7. We do not take bookings for groups of younger children or widely mixed age groups during school term time.
Secondary schools
Please contact us for details on cost, availability and to discuss your requirements.
Further education
View details of our fully guided tours for A-level, College and University students
