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School Visit & Learning Programme FAQ

How many students can you accommodate per visit?

We can accommodate up to 120 children per session, and welcome pupils from nursery level up to S6. Booking is essential for all school visits.

When do school visits take place?

School visits take place Monday to Friday, subject to availability. We offer both morning and afternoon sessions for school visits; with morning visits running from 9:30am-11:30am or 10:00am-12:00pm, and afternoon visits running from either 12pm-2pm or 12:30pm-2:30pm. Sessions last 2 hours and timings can be chosen on the needs of your school (such as travel time).

Is there parking on-site?

There is parking available both in front and behind the centre, as well as a multistorey car park. Coach parking is located to the side of the centre, on Greenmarket. For more information on parking charges and locations, please visit the Dundee City Council  page on parking.

Can we have lunch at the centre?

Yes, students are welcome to use our packed lunch space, but this must be booked in advance – please select the lunch space option when booking. Please note that the lunch space may be shared with other visiting school groups, and larger groups may be scheduled to have split lunchtimes due to seating capacity.

How do I book?

To book your visit, please visit our Learning page.

How do I pay?

An invoice will be sent to your booking email within 48 hours after your visit, unless you specify an alternative payment method. We send invoices after the visit date to ensure each school is only charged for the number of students that visit. We do however accept cash, cheque, credit/debit card, or bank transfer for payment – if you would like to use any of these please let us know during the booking process.

How much does a school visit cost?

The cost for an exhibition-only visit is £5 per student, with accompanying adults entering free of charge. Council run nursery and primary school visits from within the City of Dundee may be eligible for funding assistance based on your school’s location.

Learning Lab visits are free for those who are participating in the Learning Lab programme.

Is there a charge for accompanying teachers?

No, all accompanying adults and teachers are free of charge.

What should I do on arrival?

Upon arrival, please head towards our Reception where a member of our Science Communicator team will greet your school group.

What happens if I am late?

Please call the centre on 01382 228800 as soon as possible if you are going to be late for a visit.

Additional Support Needs

At Dundee Science Centre, we are dedicated to offering inclusive opportunities for all. When booking, please answer the additional support questions to help us provide support for your students during their visit. We also offer the following; access to quiet space, access to private space, and sensory bags.

Safety Measures

To ensure a fun and safe visit, please read the Teacher information document here. If anything occurs during your visit, please let a member of our team know as soon as possible.

Do you provide schools with risk assessments?

Yes, you can find the risk assessments on our files page here.

Changing/Cancelling Booking

We appreciate that sometimes plans can change; If you need to change your booking, please contact the Learning Team at learning@dundeesciencecentre.org.uk or 01382 868608 as soon as possible. We can’t guarantee to accommodate all requests, but we will work with you to facilitate any changes.

Itinerary for Your Visit

You will receive a timetable with timings two weeks in advance of your planned visit.

Accessibility

Please visit our Accessibility page for more information. Our Learning Team will work with you to adapt the visit to your needs if required.

Gift Shop

Our gift shop, “Curiosity Corner” is located at the front of the centre, next to Reception. You can browse the shop at the end of your visit, but we kindly request that it’s done in small groups of no more than 10.

Coats and Bags

Students are able to leave their bags at the coat/bags racks behind Reception, or in our Prism lunch area – a member of our team will direct your students to these locations.

Photography

You are more than welcome to photograph your school pupils enjoying their visit.

School Session Leaders

Each visit is led by a member of our friendly and experienced Science Communicator Team; they will be happy to help with any questions or queries on the day, and will give your group a safety & welcome briefing with both you and your students on arrival to the centre.

Please note that large groups may be split into smaller groups to help facilitate your visit around the exhibitions.