At the National Civil War Centre and Newark Museum, we offer a lively programme of learning opportunities for children of all ages. We believe that you can’t beat real-life, hands-on experiences using artefacts, props, investigation and storytelling. For that reason, all of our school visits are led by experienced, knowledgeable educators. Click on the links to the left to find out what we can do for your class or group.

Find our new Upside Down World resources for Key Stage 2 here.

Open for schools Monday to Friday, typically 10am to 2.30pm.

This is subject to change, depending on government guidance in relation to COVID-19.

We know that it’s hard to plan a visit if you’ve never been. Once you have made a provisional booking, we would be delighted to offer free entry to you and a guest so that you can investigate our facilities and complete a risk assessment. To let us know you are coming, or to arrange for a member of our team to talk you through the visit, please email civilwarlearning@nsdc.info. 

Although we specialise in the British Civil Wars, we also look after Newark’s wonderful local history collection. To find out more about our sessions on Stone Age to Iron Age, Romans and other periods, go to Other School Sessions and Newark Castle.

Our Open Doors colleagues also offer free learning sessions, funded by Arts Council England. for Key Stage 1, 2 and 3. Find out more about Open Doors for Schools here.

Lunch

We have plenty of private, indoor space where you can store your belongings and eat packed lunches. There is also a sunny courtyard for when the weather is fine. If you book a whole day with us, lunch space is automatically arranged. If you book a half day, please specify whether or not you will need this.

Café

Sometimes teachers and older students like to use the on-site Café Nineteen20 at lunchtime. If you would like to do so, please let us know before your visit or on arrival.

Toilets

There are toilets at both ends of the main building, as well as some in the workshop areas. This includes three accessible toilets.

Shop

We have a small shop with a selection of items under £5. Shop time can be timetabled into your day upon request.

Full day facilitated visit £7.00

Half day facilitated visit £4.50

Longer day with an additional workshop £8.00

Bespoke sessions £8.00

The National Civil War Centre, Newark Museum is proud to hold a LOtC badge.  Now more than ever, schools will be looking to secure services that have been assessed for both risk management (including infection control) and for quality of learning provision. The DfE Health & Safety on Educational Visits Guidance endorses the LOtC Quality Badge, stating: ‘Checking that the provider holds the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge is the easiest way to confirm that quality and safety has been externally accredited.’

Sandford Award is an independently judged, quality assured assessment of education programmes at heritage sites, museums, archives and collections across the British Isles.

Art Fund awarded funding in 2020 to enable the National Civil War Centre, Newark Museum to update our blended learning offer for schools.