Learn

The West Highland Museum aims to provide an inspirational and inclusive learning programme for school visits, special events and museum-based holiday activities.

Schools

Education at the Museum

We welcome school groups to our in-house learning sessions. Our varied collections form the basis of our programme of learning activities. We have taken a cross-curricular approach in the development of our school workshops, lively, hands-on as well as thought-provoking. We can also tailor a workshop to your particular needs.

Our bookable learning sessions include:

Early people of Lochaber
Jacobites
Victorians
Empire, Slavery and the Clearances
World War II
Health, wellbeing, diet and folk belief through the ages in Lochaber

Outreach

A member of our learning team can visit your school to provide a fun and inspiring learning session based on one of our topics, tailored to your requirements. The session can include costume, and both reproduction and authentic objects.

Digital

Learn through play with the Museum of the Highlands online resource. https://museumofthehighlands.org/play-learn

This website was created by Museums and Heritage Highlands in partnership with other Highland museums.

Inclusion

All of our learning activities and resources have been developed with an inclusive, actively anti any kind of discrimination approach.

Environment

We are conscious of the climate emergency and will make environmentally friendly choices in the delivery of our learning activities.

Handling Boxes

We have a number of topic-based handling boxes available for loan to schools. These contain approximately ten objects, of which some are genuine artefacts and others are reproduction. Each box comes with a set of notes with information about the objects and suggested learning activities which can be done with your pupils.

Boxes currently available for lending to schools:

Early people of Lochaber

Jacobites

Victorians

Empire and Enslavement

World War Two in Lochaber

Facilities

Wheelchair access, stair lift, accessible toilet. The room where learning sessions take place will be closed to the public during your class visit. Lunch/snacks may be eaten. Coats and bags may be left in this room, if your group is visiting other rooms and galleries of the museum.

Supervision

Please note that teachers and other school staff are responsible for the behaviour, safe conduct and wellbeing of their pupils during museum visits.

Risk assessment

Our room for learning activities has a safe capacity of fifteen pupils for more active hands-on activities, such as dressing up or Victorian laundry. Larger groups can be divided, and given different activities relevant to the topic within the museum. Individual schools are responsible for their own risk assessments.

Booking

Our schools' sessions are free for Lochaber schools. To enquire or book please contact

Our Lochaber

Our Lochaber is an exciting project for the 2023/4 academic year covering all aspects of life in Lochaber from the very earliest times, through the ages to the present day and beyond, with a strong theme of community and belonging.

The project has been funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to help young learners engage with culture and heritage and we would like to thank lottery players for making this project possible. Throughout the year we will be working in partnership with local schools to deliver a diverse range of learning sessions. Our partner schools are Bun-Sgoil Ghàidhlig Loch Abar and Lundavra Primary School, although other primary schools are encouraged to be involved with the project through our learning sessions.