Bewdley Museum Educational School Trips Worcestershire

Explore what life was like on the Home Front for evacuees during World War Two with our jam-packed experience day, full of interactive, immersive activities or join us as we use practical activities to take an in-depth look at the history and geography of the River Severn, including examining the effects of flooding on the local area.

Bewdley Museum is set in the heart of the beautiful market town of Bewdley, nestled on the banks on the River Severn on the edge of the Wyre Forest. The museum specialises in the rich local history, including the town’s Georgian heritage, varied trades and industries and the stories of its people. Our complex of buildings includes one of the oldest brass foundries in the country; a genuine air raid shelter in its original location; Georgian jail cells and the historic Shambles, which is an iconic feature of the museum.

Bewdley Museum school trip
Museum Worcestershire
historical heritage Worcestershire
Museum West Midlands

• Our Education team have a wealth of teaching experience and will guide groups through the whole day from start to finish. 
• Learning is memorable, fun and interactive – which means schools return year on year for their enrichment sessions. 
• Groups visiting the museum have the sole use of the education spaces for the duration of their activities
• Our museum team are always on hand to ensure the day runs smoothly.

At Bewdley Museum, we offer two educational programmes – Look Out! It’s a Blackout! (WW2) and Rivers.

Look Out! It’s a Blackout! 

Explore what life was like on the Home Front for evacuees during World War Two with our busy experience day – full of interactive, immersive activities.

On arrival at the museum, you will be met by our Billeting Officer, who will guide you and your evacuees through the day. Our wealth of artefacts from the 1940s enables us to give a real flavour of what life was like for people on the Home Front. We offer jam-packed sessions covering the evacuee suitcase, hearing an authentic air raid siren, examining and trying gas masks, blackout procedures, life in the home, the changing role of women, and a make-do and mend activity. All of this is topped off with an immersive experience in our genuine underground shelter.

Rivers 

Our situation on the River Severn makes us ideal for delivering a learning programme linked to the river and its impact on the town. A hands-on activity helps children understand the forming of the river and its course through to the Bristol Channel. The impact of flooding, which has been so widely publicised for this area for many years, forms a large part of our programme. Our schools are taken on a guided river walk, looking at features discussed, including the flood defences, and focusing on the ways in which the river has been used for and by locals over its history.  A hands-on water safety session looks at what to do if learners are ever in trouble or see someone in trouble in deep water and we offer the chance for everyone to take part in making a rope in the traditional way, at our very own ropewalk. 

Our themed Education room is suitable for one class of children, approximately 30, and we feel this offers the best experience. However, it is possible to bring 60 and for us to use a second room, an additional teacher and for groups to rotate round the activities.

Groups are authorized to take photos of their groups. We ask that they check with the adults who are delivering sessions before taking their photo.

We offer risk assessment visit for teachers, a site map highlighting areas of which to be aware and can provide our risk assessments for each programme. 

Please email education@wyreforestdc.gov.uk with any enquiries. 

The cost of visiting is £9 per child. All accompanying adults are free of charge. 

No specific clothing is required. 

For our Rivers programme, we recommended dressing for the weather as the majority of the activities are based outdoors. 

For our World War 2 programme, we encourage dressing up in 1940s attire to really immerse the evacuees in the experience

We do have trained first aiders and access to first aid equipment on site, but, due to the nature of the programme, we encourage schools to bring their own first aider and equipment.

We have a shop which we welcome schools using and there is a café on site.  We have several toilets grouped around the site, including young child changing and accessible toilets. 

A covered lunch space will be provided for visiting groups and we encourage picnics in our gardens when the weather permits

The Education room and the majority of the museum site is wheelchair accessible. For the WW2 programme, the Air Raid Shelter and the second teaching space for large groups are accessed via steps. 

Our Education team have a wealth of experience working with learners with Special Education Needs. Please contact us to discuss your requirements.

We are open for pre-arranged group visits from February – December from 10:00am – 4:00pm. We are able to accommodate evening or weekend visits – just contact us to discuss your requirements. 

We wanted to e-mail to thank you and the other staff at the museum for hosting our school trips during the last half-term. Every class thoroughly enjoyed it and the museum guides presented all the information brilliantly. Hopefully we will see you again for trips in the future!

Franche Community Primary School

A great big thank you to all the museum staff who led and supported the sessions. The sessions were well led and the resources shared were engaging and informative.  The children were buzzing with excitement upon returning to school. The visit worked a treat as a hook for the start of the topic as children gained an insight to what life was life during WW2; listening to the air raid siren, visiting a genuine air raid shelter and evacuating on a steam train. 

The Olive School, Birmingham

Thank you very much for a wonderful visit to the museum last week. The children all thoroughly enjoyed the day, especially going into the air raid shelter. The teacher was fantastic – so engaging and lots of fun, while conveying so much information to the children. The children were also fascinated by the baby’s gas mask!

Brindley Heath Academy, Kinver

Severn Valley Railway is a short distance away and groups can be met at the train station should they wish to add to the evacuee experience for our World War 2 programme and arrive via steam train. Train travel is arranged direct with Severn Valley Railway. 

Free coach parking is available at West Midlands Safari Park, which is a short distance away. 

Groups arriving by minibus may be able to have paid for parking in the town.