Ragged School Museum

London
5-11
Communication Skills, English, History, Team Building
,

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What will students see and do?

Take your students on an authentic tour of London’s East End to a fascinating 19th-century Ragged School.

The Ragged School Museum is on the towpath of the Regent’s Canal. The canal in itself is a portal to another world with colourful narrowboats and craft stalls. You can enter the museum via the Copperfield road entrance and also via the towpath.

So, what is a ragged school? Through exciting role play and object handling, students will learn about life in the Victorian era. They will discover what life was like for poor children at school during this time. Activities take place in an old warehouse that served as one of the first free schools for poor or ‘ragged’ children.

School group sessions are for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils. The Key Stage 1 session includes an interactive storytelling session or a Victorian-style lesson both led by costumed actors. These sessions can take part in the morning or afternoon.

For Key Stage 2, the visit has two components. The first part of the session includes a Victorian lesson with ‘Miss Perkins’. The children will experience what a typical lesson was like for the poor children who went to the school.

The second part of the visit will take place in a Victorian East End family kitchen. Volunteers and staff will show pupils traditional Victorian chores that children would do. Children will have the opportunity to handle objects that are more than a hundred years old.

Please note that the museum is currently undergoing a major refurbishment and aims to reopen in late spring 2022.

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

The Schools Programme at The Ragged School Museum links to the National Curriculum for Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and students with additional needs.

Children will take part in discussions and share ideas during their visits to the classroom. Key Stage 1 students will learn about Polly, a six-year-old girl who has to do the chores in the family home. Children will sing songs and rhymes and handle real historical artefacts.

One of the actors will meet the children out of character and then transform into their Victorian counterparts for a spectacular historical experience. The session ends with a debrief from the actor where children can ask questions and discuss their experience.

Key Stage 2 students will go back in time to the 1880s in the Victorian classroom with ‘Miss Perkins.’ They will experience what a Victorian lesson was like before going to the East End family kitchen.

Children will explore the family home through roleplay, object handling and storytelling. They will then work in groups to investigate and present their findings on objects in the family home. This session will work well with Victorian lessons for Key Stage 2.

You can call or email the venue to discuss facilities and procedures for students with special educational needs. The staff at the museum will ensure sessions meet the needs of your students. Visits for SEN students can occur on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Subjects covered

Communication Skills

English

History

Team Building

Teaching resources provided

The museum offers worksheets for children in Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4.

Minimum and maximum group size

Morning sessions can accommodate two classes of up to 68 children. The afternoon session is only one class, with a maximum number of 34 children.

Details of risk assessment

The Ragged School Museum will assist with your risk assessment. You can contact them before your visit and they will be happy to help you

PLANNING

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Facilities on-site

There is step-free access to the main entrance and a disabled toilet is available. There is also a lunchroom for classes taking the morning sessions. Schools are welcome to use the gift shop which has a range of traditional sweets and toys available at a small cost.

Adults are welcome to take advantage of the cafe when it is open. It sells a small range of hot and cold beverages and snacks. Visitors should bring a packed lunch or make alternative arrangements in the area.

Opening times

The museum has a team of dedicated volunteers and is open between 10am and 5pm every Wednesday and Thursday. It is also open on the first Sunday of every month between 2pm and 5pm.

Pricing

All sessions are £157 (£140 for Tower Hamlets schools). Bookings for SEN students are £50 per session. You can email the museum at schools@raggedschoolmuseum.org.uk or contact them via their website.

Travel arrangements

Coach parking is available free of charge for visiting schools. There are many bus routes to the museum including 277, D6 and D7. The nearest train stations are Liverpool St and Stratford.

If you take the train, you will need to continue to the museum via tube. The nearest tube station is Mile End (Central, District and Hammersmith & City Lines).