BRANTWOOD SCHOOL GROUP VISITS
Brantwood offers unique educational opportunities to a range of audiences and groups. Activities for schools are available in the house and grounds.
The refurbishment and development of the former hayloft into a new learning resource area in 2015/16 provided a unique opportunity for the Friends of Brantwood to develop a project which put John Ruskin’s beliefs and principles into practice and to offer activities to children and young people who might not otherwise be aware of Ruskin or visit Brantwood. Spending time in this lovely environment on simple experiences in a natural setting – observational drawing, making natural bookmarks, magic potions and natural colour palettes – gives our young visitors positive experiences of curiosity, achievement and skills development. It increases their life force, infuses them with energy and inspires them to undertake new tasks and strive towards unimagined goals.
The activities were developed with close working between Brantwood volunteers, staff and outdoor learning specialist, Rosie Taylor. Our volunteer education coordinator, Anita, has spent her working life in education roles and is a keen practitioner of Ruskin’s beliefs. Anita works as the coordinator for the school visits and helps develop and deliver this wonderful education offer.
The activities and admission are all provided free of charge to schools within Cumbria, this is funded through small grants raised. In some instances, if the cost of transport is prohibitive for a school, up to 50% of transport costs can be covered. For schools outside of Cumbria, we still very much welcome you but as our grant funding does not cover these visits, we ask a small fee to cover the costs.
Admission Fee
Infant & Junior school groups are charged at £3.00 per pupil. Secondary school groups are charged student rate of £5.25 per pupil. There is no charge for adult helpers and teachers.
Download the booking form here.
If you would like to enquire about dates available in 2023, please contact us on 015394 41396 or bookings@brantwood.org.uk
Parking
Brantwood’s car park is free of charge, but space is limited. If you come by coach, we recommend you either come by small to medium sized coach and approach from the north (via head of lake) or park at Coniston boat landings and use the ferry services.
Access
Brantwood is one of the most beautifully situated houses in the Lake District and is perched above the eastern shore of Coniston Water. Access is via the narrow East of Lake Road from Coniston Village, or by boat from Coniston boatlandings or Monk Coniston. Both Coniston Launch and Steam Yacht Gondola have regular sailings to Brantwood jetty.
Brantwood’s estate comprises of woodland, mountainside gardens and our lakeside gardens. Many of the paths around the estate are steep and accessed via stepped paths. Please ensure that your pupils and adult helpers wear suitable footwear and have adequate waterproof clothing.
Information about access for our disabled visitors is enclosed in the pack.
House Rules
Please impress upon your pupils that Brantwood is open to the public during your school visit and we ask your group to move around the house and grounds in a manner that shows consideration for other visitors and a care for the objects on display.
Brantwood is a treasure house of Ruskin artworks and personal possessions and many are displayed as he would have had them when he lived here. The house has the feeling of being someone’s home, therefore many items are not behind glass. If your students are taking notes or doing an activity that involves writing, please ask them not to rest their work on house furniture and displays.
No food or drink is to be consumed within the house.
We would appreciate it if mobile phones could be switched off or set to `silent` during your visit to the house.
Risk Assessments
Please remember you are responsible for carrying out your own risk assessment for your visit. Our teacher pack includes an example of a risk assessment written by teachers from Greengate Junior School, Barrow-in-Furness, which you are welcome to use as a starting point.
Be aware that access to the lakeside gardens and the route from the jetty to the house both require you to cross a road with your group. The estate also has streams, a small pond and two small reservoirs.
Ratio of adults/children
Please observe the LEA recommended ratio of adults to children.
Lunch Spot
If the weather is fine, Brantwood has 250 acres of estate to enjoy, with space to have a packed lunch for example, in the Painter’s Glade. If the weather is bad, the Coach House Loft may be available to school groups to eat their lunch. Please ensure that all rubbish is collected up and taken home.
First Aid
Several of Brantwood’s staff are trained in emergency first aid. We have an accident book on site and require you to report any accidents, incidents or near-misses to a member of Brantwood staff.
Toilets
Brantwood’s public toilets are located adjacent to the house in the Linton building and include disabled facilities. Please ensure that pupils are supervised when using these facilities.
Dogs
Please be aware that dogs are allowed on a lead in Brantwood grounds and help dogs are allowed in the house. Although dog litter is not generally a problem, we advise group leaders to bring a suitable cleanser in case contact is made with animal waste