The schools programme on Hampstead Heath is run by of the City of London's Open Spaces Learning Team.
We offer a range of hands-on education sessions for all ages, from early years to A-level, which support the National Curriculum. Our sessions deliver enjoyable, authentic and memorable experiences, and cover a range of subjects including biology, geography, art, history and literacy.
Gain from the expert knowledge of our team of educators. Our friendly and enthusiastic staff provide a warm welcome, facilitate a safe and well organised visit, and share their passion for learning.
We deliver sessions in the three main areas of Hampstead Heath:
Parliament Hill Fields - Our multi-sensory education centre and two teaching gardens provide safe, engaging and friendly environments for students to learn.
Golders Hill Park and Zoo - From the Glassroom classroom we deliver a range of sessions from our primary programme. Students can explore the zoo and butterfly house to learn about tropical butterflies, lemurs, owls and more.
Old Orchard garden - This is a beautiful space to explore nature and has a pond, mini-beast hunting areas and a compost toilet. It is located on the North side of the Heath near Kenwood House.
Why book Hampstead Heath for School Trips and Educational Visits?
Hampstead Heath is as close to countryside as you can get in London with expanses of grasslands and woodlands perfect for exploring, just six kilometres from Trafalgar square. This makes it the ideal place to escape the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Since 2005, students have been inspired, engaged and amazed by this amazing outdoor classroom.
What activities are available during group visits?
We offer a range of different sessions for Early years to A-level, covering many different topics including:
• Habitats
• Maps and Compasses
• Plants and Seeds
• Stone Age
• Biology Fieldwork
• Descriptive Writing
• Survival Skills
Our sessions tend to be roughly two hours long, and we look to agree learning objectives with teachers, before the visit.
For more information please send us an enquiry and we can help with your planning.
What size groups do you cater for?
Our sessions are designed for one class at a time (30 students). We can be flexible and are happy to discuss delivering certain sessions for larger groups and more than one session at a time. In the past we have catered for to up to 120 students at a time.
Do you offer on-site classroom facilities?
At the Education Centre (Parliament Hill Fields), toilets, hand washing facilities and a lunchroom are easily accessible for all users. In the wider area, we have several play areas, public toilets and cafes. At Golders Hill Park a lunchroom is available to book. Toilets and hand washing facilities are at the Golders Hill Café, and there is a playground, a zoo and further toilets in the park. At the Old Orchard garden there is a compost toilet. We are not too far from Kenwood House which has toilets, and a café.
Is there first aid on site?
Our education staff are first aid trained and are supported by first aiders in the wider Hampstead Heath team. We would always recommend bringing a first-aider when taking children out of the classroom.
Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?
Our Education Centre, and the toilets there, are fully accessible.
Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
We ask groups to let us know about SEND pupils when booking a trip in order for us to cater to their needs as best as possible.
Anything else?
At Hampstead Heath we have been working with local secondary teachers to develop a range of different ways to use the Heath. As well as booking sessions, secondary teachers can also:
• Download free teaching resources for use on Hampstead Heath or in the classroom.
• Borrow one of our loan boxes containing equipment to carry out activities on Hampstead Heath or in the classroom.
Need help with costs for your visit? If you are a London school with at least 35% of pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium funding you can apply to the City of London School Visits Fund. This consists of grants of up to £300 to help with costs for visiting a variety of City of London venues including Hampstead Heath. This is currently available for visits taking place before the end of March 2019. Visit the School Visits Fund website to learn more.
Reviews from Schools visiting Hampstead Heath !
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