Bath council to offer free school visits at heritage sites

Bath & North East Somerset Council has launched a new scheme to enable more school children from across the country to visit the city's Roman Baths and Victoria Art Gallery for free.

Free visits and learning sessions will be available to state-funded primary and secondary schools across the UK, where 30% or more of pupils receive free school meals. 

The scheme is in addition to a current provision offering all school groups in Bath & North East Somerset free entry to both sites, with no additional eligibility criteria.

"High-quality, immersive school trips should be accessible to all students," Paul Roper, Cabinet Member for Economic & Cultural Sustainable Development at the council, said.

"We understand that cost can be a significant barrier for schools, and we hope that our new offer of free entry and free learning sessions for eligible schools will make a difference.

"We are committed to sharing Bath’s rich heritage, and through this new initiative, we aim to ensure that more children can experience the excitement of learning in an unforgettable setting."

Lindsey Braidley, Learning and Participation Manager at Bath’s Heritage Services added, "Experiencing history and art firsthand is invaluable for young learners. Not only do school visits enhance learning, but engaging with heritage also provides significant benefits for health and well-being.

"For many children, a school trip to a museum or gallery might be their only opportunity to discover heritage and culture, and we want to ensure this is available to as many students as possible.

"As well as offering a memorable way to discover history, a visit to the Roman Baths can inspire conversations around culture, science, lifestyle, engineering, health, and other subjects across the curriculum. We look forward to hearing from eligible schools to arrange their free visit.”