Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium

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What will students see and do?

Are you ready to bring science to life? Get set for the non-stop, interactive Ultimate STEM School Trip at Winchester Science Centre.

Suitable for children in KS1, KS2 and Year 7 in KS3, this all-inclusive experience lasts the whole day. All you have to do is decide which of the seven curriculum-linked workshops you’d like to do, and the Science Centre Inspirers will do the rest.

Will you blast off on an astronomical adventure to discover the secrets of the stars in Discover Space? How about coding your own robot to walk its very own robot catwalk? Or what about a loud and interactive sound workshop where students will explore how we hear and process sound?

And that’s not all! All school visits will get their very own bespoke Planetarium show, suited to your group.

Take a seat and zoom through the Solar System for an experience you’ll never forget. The massive 360-degree screen is all around you, making you feel as though you’re flying through space. You’ll find out fantastic space facts, learn all about the planets up above us, and discover secrets of the stars.

There’s lots of time to explore the two floors of interactive exhibits, too.

Climb into a massive guitar and feel it vibrate when people pluck the strings. Experience the acoustics of a sonic rocket. Get right inside a giant ear and see how it works. Blast off on an out-of-this-world journey through Explorer:Space.

There are exhibits for meteorites and stardust fact-finding. Learn about robots and coding. You can even find out what atmospheric pressure does when you head into orbit.

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

Every school trip will include each of the following activities:

A 45-minute curriculum-linked Discovery workshop
A live presenter-led Planetarium show
Lots of time to explore the two floors of hands-on interactive exhibits

All you need to do is decide which of the Discovery workshops you’d like to book:

Destination Space: Have you heard all about the James Webb Telescope? In Destination Space, pupils will get an introduction to this amazing piece of space technology. They’ll also explore the properties of light, starting with the visible spectrum before moving to infrared and heat exchange. And what happens if we use diffraction to break light into its constituent parts? Pick this workshop and find out!

Matter: What’s the difference between solids, liquids and gases? Choose this workshop and find out. Pupils will explore why they behave the way they do before making some slime! As a non-Newtonian fluid, slime brings the properties of matter to life. Pupils will see and feel them in action while having a lot of fun along the way.

Bots: It’s humans vs robots! Pupils will learn the basics of programming. Grab a laptop and program the Crumble-bots. Teach them to move, make them change colour, and even get them dancing.

Rocket Ships: Three, two, one! Pupils will have lots of fun launching their very own rockets. Learn about forces and combustion. Watch the awesome whoosh bottle experiment. Pupils will design their rockets using foam pieces and K’nex before maximising their flying potential by considering what will make them aerodynamic. Then let the countdown begin!

Sound: Pupils will discover how sound travels before exploring what volume and pitch are. They’ll test their own hearing and compare their ears to creatures in the animal world.

Heart Heroes: Choose this workshop to find out more about the heart. What keeps it healthy? How can we look after it, and how does it work? Discover our heart secrets with an exciting live dissection.

Marvellous Minibeasts: Come and explore the weird and wonderful world of British bugs. Get up close to live minibeasts. Examine life cycles, diets and behaviour, and discover the hidden secrets of the flora and fauna of the South Downs National Park.

Subjects covered

STEM

Science

Teaching resources provided

Details of any pre- or post-visit materials will be available on the Science Centre website.

Minimum and maximum group size

There is a minimum group size of 15 children for the Ultimate STEM School Trip. If you wish to bring a smaller group you can, but minimum charges based on 15 students will apply.

If you are a SEND school wishing to bring a smaller group, this charge may be waived. Please contact the team at education@winchestersciencecentre.org to discuss your requirements.

Details of risk assessment

Need help writing your risk assessment? There are some great tips and advice in the Science Centre’s handy guide. You can find it on the website here.

PLANNING

Don't miss our downloadable A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

icon for A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

Facilities on-site

Two floors of exciting, action-packed STEM fun: Check out the schools interactive sensory map before you visit.

Shop: The Science Shop will be open between 12pm and 2pm, but only if you let the team know in advance that you would like to use it. It is recommended that pupils bring around £3 to £5 pocket money.

Toilets: There are female and male toilets with smaller seat options for younger visitors. There are also two accessible toilets and a Changing Paces facility.

Indoor and outdoor lunch areas: You’ll be designated a lunch area on arrival.

Bag and coat storage: You’ll have your own storage area designated on arrival.

Coach parking: Coaches have their own parking area in the car park, and parking is free. The access route to the main entrance from the coach parking is completely flat. There is also Blue Badge parking closer to our entrance for those that need it.

Lift and access: The Science Centre is completely open plan with a level surface. Between the two floors is a roll-on-roll-off lift that’s big enough for a wheelchair and carer/personal assistant.

Recombobulation room: Need some quiet time? The Recombobulation Room is a peaceful sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the Science Centre. It’s a calm, empty space with hardly any sound and a lovely dimmable light.

Sensory backpacks and ear defenders: There are brilliant sensory backpacks that you can borrow. They come with fiddle toys, ear defenders and a social story.

First aid: There are on-site first-aiders and a fully equipped first aid room. Please let the team know if you would like to use this room for medical requirements during your visit.

Unfortunately, the café is not open during school visits for food. Make sure everyone remembers to bring their lunch. It is also recommended that you bring along a refillable water bottle as there are cold water dispensers available.

Opening times

School groups typically visit between 10am and 2pm on a weekday during Hampshire term-times.

For general public opening times, please visit the Science Centre website.

Pricing

Winchester Science Centre is run by the educational charity Wonderseekers. The Charity works really hard to break down barriers to engagement. To help with this, all schools benefit from a discount on regular general admission prices, and there is an additional subsidy of up to 60% for eligible schools.

Subsidies are provided for state-funded schools, schools with above average number of students receiving free school meals, and schools identified by the Science Centre as priority schools.

Standard school rates:

Student – £13 (VAT exempt); Adult – FREE

Subsidised rates for eligible schools:

12% subsidy for state-funded schools (including academies, multi-academy trusts, free schools and University Technology Colleges) – £11.44 (VAT exempt)
60% for Winchester Science Centre priority schools and any school with 17% or more students receiving free school meals – £5.20 (VAT exempt)