Observatory School Trip

Bayfordbury Observatory School Trips

Why book 'Observatory School Trip' with Bayfordbury Observatory for School Trips and Educational Visits?

We offer a variety of tailored visits to suit different key stages and areas of focus, aimed at deepening students' understanding of fundamental Space concepts. Our diverse range of sessions caters to all educational levels, including pre-designed programmes for the Years 2 and 5 Space topic, GCSE Astronomy and BTEC/A Level curriculum. Additionally, we offer flexibility to customise sessions based on specific subject matters upon request.

Each visit spans approximately 2 to 2.5 hours and features an engaging programme led by astronomy education experts and our current astrophysics students. This includes an interactive astronomy talk, a captivating planetarium show, and immersive telescope tours. Depending on weather conditions, daytime visits include the opportunity to use our solar telescopes and sunspotters, along with a tour of our general-purpose telescopes. Evening visits will have the potential to view the Moon, planets, or nebulae through our optical telescopes, dependent on the time of year and the Moon's phase.

Child goes free with the purchase of 1 adult ticket!

Current School Trip Offer

Every child attending a School Trip event booked through Plan My School Trip will receive a voucher for a free ticket to one of our family events at the Observatory with the purchase of an adult ticket. This includes any Community Visit and any Open Evening session beginning at 5pm or 5.30pm. Please indicate your interest in this offer when completing your booking.

valid until: December 2024

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits

What activities are available during group visits?

Each trip will include an interactive presentation on the chosen topic, an exciting and educational planetarium show, and a tour of our telescopes with a chance to use them, weather permitting.

In addition to these standard activities, certain topics feature hands-on exercises to further explore themes and reinforce knowledge. Our standard topics cover a wide range of subjects suitable for various age groups and knowledge levels:

-Earth and Space (adaptable to any age/knowledge level)
-Our Solar System (adaptable to any age/knowledge level)
-Sun Spots (includes a math-related activity, suitable for GCSE/BTEC/A Level)
-History of the Universe (recommended for Year 5 and above)
-Space Telescopes and Light (includes activities on waves, suitable for Year 5 - 11)
-Introduction to Black Holes (recommended for Year 5 - 11)
-The Moon (recommended for Year 2 - 9)
-Rockets and Forces (recommended for primary school students only)

Choose from this diverse selection of topics to tailor your workshop experience to your group's interests and educational needs

Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?

Physics topics: Space physics (KS3/4), Earth and space, Planetarium.

Visit one of the largest teaching observatories in the UK with a school trip to Bayfordbury Observatory. Each trip will include an interactive presentation on an astronomy topic from one of our Astrophysics students, an exciting planetarium show, and a tour of our telescopes with potential to use them if weather permits. Some of our School Trip topics include "Earth and Space", "Our Solar System", "Space Telescopes and Light", "Rockets and Forces"(primary only), "Sun Spots"(GCSE/BTEC/A Level) and others upon requests.

What size groups do you cater for?

We offer trips for the following group sizes:

Half class (up to 15 students)
One class (16 - 30 students)
Two classes (31 - 60 students)
Three classes (61 - 90 students)

Any larger groups will need 2 or more sessions.

Do you offer on-site classroom facilities?

Our presentations and activities will be held in a student lab classroom.

Is there first aid on site?

At least one member of our team will be first aid trained per event.

Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?

We are fully wheel chair accessible and can accommodate other disabilities with notice in advance.

Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

Yes, we have lots of previous experience with many types of Special Educational Needs, particularly ASD and ADHD.

Anything else?

Please let us know any additional requests or requirements for your trip.

Who are Bayfordbury Observatory?

Bayfordbury Observatory is a part of the University of Hertfordshire where undergraduate and postgraduate Astrophysics students are taught how to use telescopes and software at one of the largest teaching observatories in the UK. When the observatory is not being used for teaching, we welcome various public and private groups for events. We aim to make the wonders of space and astronomy accessible and engaging for people of all ages.