LEARNING BEYOND THE CLASSROOM
School visits at Pleasley Pit
Take learning beyond the classroom with an activity day exploring Pleasley Pit’s mining heritage, local history and natural environment. Discover the museum and pit buildings, learn about mining families, and get hands-on with fossils and rocks.
Visits for groups of up to 36 children, with three activity sessions tailored around your class.
36
Children in a school group
3
Activity sessions
9.45–2.15
A typical visit, in one day
History you can stand inside
Big machinery. Real stories. Curious minds.
A school visit to Pleasley Pit connects the subjects children learn in class with the people and landscape around them. The former colliery becomes a place to ask questions, examine objects and imagine everyday life in a mining community.
Children work in smaller groups and rotate through three activity sessions. Our volunteers help them discover the museum, explore social history and investigate the science beneath their feet.
Three ways to discover
A day that brings learning to life.
Explore the museum
Step into the engine house with a guide. Discover the machinery, buildings and stories connected to the pit, and how the mine shaped working life.
A Day in the Life of a Miner
Explore the social history of miners and their families. Think about daily routines, work and the community that grew around Pleasley Pit.
Fossils, rocks & the landscape
Investigate rock formation and the science behind coal. Optional object handling lets children explore fossils, coal and other objects in a practical way.
A typical day
From the first hello to the final discovery.
Times are a guide. We’ll confirm the arrangements for your class before the visit.
09:45
Arrive & settle in
A welcome to Pleasley Pit, time for belongings and preparations, then activities begin at around 10am.
10:00
Explore & rotate
Small groups take part in the activity sessions, with a lunch and comfort break during the day.
14:15
Take it back to class
The visit usually finishes around 2.15pm, with new experiences, questions and stories to share.
A closer look at the museum
What pupils will discover
Models, machinery and displays give children plenty to notice, question and talk about. Here are some of the things to look out for during the museum part of a school visit.
See the whole colliery
The model colliery brings buildings, headstocks and railway tracks together. It gives pupils a way to picture how the different parts of the pit connected.
Discover the pit ponies
The stables exhibit opens up questions about the animals that worked in mining, helping pupils explore another part of the story of life at the pit.
Hear mining stories
Film and interpretation displays introduce the people behind the machinery. Pupils can connect the objects they see with the experiences of miners and their families.
Explore the controls
Gauges, levers and controls offer a closer look at the engineering behind the winding engines—and a starting point for questions about how the machinery worked.
Planned around your pupils
Room to learn. Space to feel comfortable.
Your group has exclusive use of our learning room for belongings, activities and breaks. The country park and cabin classroom add opportunities for learning outdoors.
Around two weeks before your visit, we contact the school to confirm arrangements. Tell us in advance about accessibility, SEN, sight, hearing or sensory needs, so that we can discuss appropriate support and alternatives.
Handling objects is optional. Depending on the weather, lunch can be a picnic outside or taken in the café area.
Useful to know
Planning your school visit
How many children can visit?
Activity days are designed for groups of up to 36 children, divided into smaller groups during the sessions. Include your pupil numbers, ages and accompanying adults when you enquire.
How do we confirm a date and price?
Use the request form below with your preferred dates and learning interests. The Trust team will discuss availability, pricing and final arrangements with you.
Can we discuss additional needs?
Yes. Please share accessibility, SEN and sensory requirements when you enquire. We will talk through the visit with your school and discuss what can be provided.
Let’s plan it together
Give your class a day to remember.
Tell us about your pupils, preferred dates and learning interests. Submitting the form requests a visit; the team will contact you to agree availability and arrangements.
Prefer to speak to someone? Call the Visitor Centre on 01623 818928.