Plan an educational visit

Below you'll find information to assist you when completing your own risk assessment during a preliminary visit to the site. Please remember that a risk assessment document is only valid if completed by the teacher.

Download a hazard identification sheet (PDF)

If you have need any further advice, give us a call on 0330 058 0058.

Supervision

The museum is a public building and adult group leaders must remain with their students at all times to supervise their behaviour, ensure their health and safety, and accompany them in the event of an evacuation.

Groups must have the correct adult-to-student ratios: 

• Ages 5 and under – 1:4  
  Ages 5 to 11 – 1:8
  Ages 11 to 16 – 1:10
  Ages 16 to 18 – 1:30
  Over-18s – 1 responsible adult per group

We are committed to ensuring all our visitors feel welcome and enjoy their experience with us. If the behaviour of anyone in your group adversely affects the health and safety of other visitors or staff or causes damage to the collection, this person may be asked to leave.

Please have contingency measures in place in case anyone is asked to leave the building. Get in touch with us prior to your visit if you have any questions regarding this matter.

Museum staff

All museum staff have undergone a standard police check. Staff working directly with students have undergone an Advance Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check.

Staff delivering educational events have relevant experience and training.

The museum has written health and safety policy statements. Daily safety checks are carried out on all galleries and hazards are isolated or rectified immediately.

All staff attend mandatory health and safety training courses, and the museum is subject to an annual independent audit to ensure that health and safety standards are maintained.

Exhibitions and activities are designed with full consideration of risk control measures and assessments are completed for all new works and activities.

The Science Museum Group maintains insurance cover in respect of public and product liability.

Download a copy of our public liability insurance certificate.

View a visual story to familiarise yourself with the museum before your visit.

Here is a timeline outlining the typical structure of a school visit:

1. Arrive at the museum
2. Enter via automatic doors
3. Meet a member of staff from the museum
4. This person will give a safety briefing about the tracks, buffers and fire exits. Also, where you can find the toilets
5. Next you will be shown where your picnic table is, here you can leave your coat and packed lunch
6. Then a person from the museum will take your class on a walking tour around the museum, or your adults might decide to do some activities with you
7. Next you might visit the toilets and then you will have lunch at the picnic tables
8. Then your adults might decide to do some activities with you, or a person from the museum will take your class on a walking tour around the museum
9. Next you will collect your coat and packed lunch bag from the picnic table, you may visit the toilet
10. Finally, you will get back on the coach or train to go back to school

If you’re using a satnav, enter DL4 2RE for the main car park. Follow the road into the industrial estate; the car park is the last turn on the left.

Alternatively, follow the brown tourist signs found on these routes:

• From A689 towards Bishop Auckland (Rushyford/Eden Arms Roundabout)
• From A688 (Bishop Auckland) at roundabout onto West Auckland Road (A6072)
• Take Junction 58 on A1(M) onto the A68 (for Corbridge) and follow the Locomotion signs. We’re just 15 minutes from the A1(M)

We are a three-minute walk from Shildon railway station (SHD), served by Northern Rail trains from Darlington and Bishop Auckland.

Regular bus services run from Bishop Auckland and Darlington. Arriva number 1 (from Darlington) and number 5 (from Bishop Auckland) stop on Dale Road, just outside Locomotion.

For further information and timetables, use the journey planner on the Traveline website.

Locomotion is a 15-minute walk from Shildon town centre.

Coaches should drop students off at the Main Hall car park (DL4 2RE). Signs will direct you to the entrance at the front of the building.

Please notify us as soon as possible by calling 0330 058 0058.

Bags, coats and lunches can be stored securely in the boxes provided.

Reserved picnic tables are provided for you to eat your packed lunch.

Toilets are located at the front of the Main Hall next to Café No. 1.

The museum has trained members of staff able to provide first aid and all first-aid incidents are recorded.

Please ask a member of staff if you require assistance.

The museum has a robust evacuation policy with well-rehearsed procedures that ensure visitors can safely and quickly exit the premises.

Announcements over the public-address system will alert you to an evacuation. If this occurs, please observe the following points:

• Lead your group out of the museum as quickly as possible—fire exits are clearly signposted and doors should unlock automatically during an evacuation.
• Please do not stop to take the register until you reach the assembly point.
• You will all be evacuated to the same evacuation meeting point.

Visits to the museum usually involve some time for you and your group to explore the museum on your own.

We offer STEM support and resources to help your students get the most out of their visit. Find out more here.

Our shop is located at the front of the Main Hall.

We can provide goody bags containing souvenirs of your visit. Bags cost approximately £3 each and should be ordered in advance.

We have a large outdoor play area, located at the front of the Main Hall.

Cab access is available on the Black 5 locomotive.