We offer a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities – whether you are a school, college, nursery, a home-educator or a member of a community group.
Visits to the museum can either be led by your group leader, or we can arrange for a guide to take you on a fascinating tour. We also provide themed learning weeks for schools – these include history, science, design technology and art. We have loan boxes for you to borrow (Trains, Seaside Holidays and Victorian Toys and Games), and supporting resources that you will be able to download from this page.
We can also come and see you, or arrange training for staff and volunteers in how to use our resources. We also host regular Open Days for teachers and other educators to come along to and find out more.
The Northern Rail activity room can be used by schools making a visit to use as a base and to eat packed lunches in. It is also open for a variety of activities during school holidays and on event days.
How to Book
To book an educational visit or for more information on educational activities please contact Sarah Gouldsbrough, Learning and Access Officer.
Tel: 01325 734128
Fax: 01325 287746
Email: sarah.gouldsbrough@darlington.gov.uk
You can download our teachers information pack [PDF document] for information on planning your visit and help with Health and Safety.
Resources
To download:
Railway Heritage Trail - Explore Darlington's Railway Heritage with this trail for children around the town centre and to the museum. There is a pack for teachers with details of how the trail can be used in the classroom. There is also an extra activity sheet for Bank Top Station (Darlington Station on the East Coast main line). Please contact the Station Manager if you would like to visit, as ticket barriers are now in place.
Teachers pack [PDF document, 686KB]
Children's rail heritage activity sheets [PDF document]
Extra Bank Top Station activity sheet [PDF document]
North Lodge Park - In 2010, the bandstand in North Lodge Park, Darlington, was renovated, and a programme of activities and events to celebrate the work is continuing. As part of the project, we have created a learning resource with a variety of inspiring learning activities for schools and other educators. The project was funded by The Big Lottery Fund, the County Durham Foundation, Darlington Borough Council, Fair Share, Garfield Weston and the Friends of North Lodge Park.
North Lodge Park learning resource [PDF document]
Loan Boxes
Loan boxes are available for schools and other learning organisations to borrow. Please contact the Museum Access Officer to book.
Boxes available:
- Trains
- Seaside Holidays
- Victorian Toys
- Journeys (aimed at KS1, includes a scheme of work)
- 'The Opening Day of the Stockton and Darlington Railway' - a brand new resource based around the painting on display in the museum
Links to online resources
Durham University Library Special Collections [external link] developed an excellent resource with Corporation Road School on the Stockton and Darlington Railway.
For more information and research on rail you can also visit the National Railway Museum education and research page [external link].