School visits to Harcourt Arboretum
Information for secondary schools and further education groups.
Confirmation letter
Once your visit has been arranged, you will receive a confirmation letter by email containing the details of the visit. Please read this carefully, and if any alterations need to be made please contact secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk.
Further information
In addition to the confirmation letter, you will receive further information for your visit, including notes to help you complete your risk assessment and detailed information about your chosen session. Please distribute this information to all teachers whose classes are involved in the sessions.
Teacher pre-visit
If you would like to arrange a free pre-visit to the Arboretum to discuss your session and any questions you might have, please contact secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk.
Preparation for your visit
Pre-visit activities will be provided as part of the detailed information for your session. You are advised to complete some of these activities prior to your visit to help prepare your students.
Special needs
All our activities can be adapted for students with special educational needs. We are pleased to welcome special school groups and to support children with special needs who are integrated into mainstream schools. Please talk to us about your students' needs when you book.
Group size
The maximum group size that can be accommodated at the Arboretum is 35 students. If the number of students in your group increases beyond this threshold after you have made your booking, please get in touch as soon as possible, so arrangements can be made for two separate visits. No exceptions will be made.
Adult supervision
All school groups are required to bring four adults with them to accompany and supervise the students. However, we realise that some groups may want to bring more adults. In this case, we request a maximum ratio of one adult to every four children in the group (e.g. no more than eight adults for a class of 32); please do not bring more adults than this as it can be a distraction for the students. Please note that all schools sessions are age-specific, so it is not appropriate for participating parents to bring younger siblings or pushchairs.
What to wear
You will be outside for all of the visit, so make sure your group are all dressed sensibly with plenty of warm, waterproof clothing (layers are advisable) and sensible shoes (sturdy soles), boots or wellingtons (with thick socks). Please do not bring umbrellas. In warmer weather, it is also advisable that you bring hats and plenty of sunscreen. Bare legs or tights are not advisable as stinging plants and thorny plants are growing naturally throughout the site.
Location
We are located six miles south of Oxford, just outside the village of Nuneham Courtenay.
Harcourt Arboretum
Peacock Gate
Nuneham Courtenay
OX44 9PX
Parking
The Arboretum is able to provide parking for cars, minibuses and coaches. Please advise in advance of coach parking as we have limited coach spaces.
Meeting point
A member of our Education Team will meet your party at the Coach drop off point at the time your session is due to commence.
Visit format
A member of our Education Team will lead your session; however, the participation of your adults is essential to the success of the visit. After a brief introduction to the session, your party will be divided into two groups. Each must be accompanied by two adults. One group will be guided by a member of our Education Team, while the other completes a trail and activities which we will prepare for you. Halfway through your visit, the two groups will meet and swap over. After both groups have completed both parts of the visit, we will meet again for a brief plenary to close the session.
Adult participation
To gain maximum benefit from your visit it is important that your adults fully participate in the session. The timetable for each visit has been carefully co-ordinated, so it is advisable that all adults have watches to ensure smooth running. Teachers are encouraged to informally assess their students’ progress throughout the visit.
Behaviour
Teachers are responsible for the conduct of their students whilst visiting the Harcourt Arboretum.
Safety and First Aid
Please bring your own First Aid kit. You are responsible for administering any First Aid treatment required by your students during their visit to the Arboretum. Please advise us in advance if any of your students have allergies.
Equipment
You do not need to bring any equipment with you, as you will be supplied with paper and pencils etc if they are required. You may like to bring a camera to take photographs to record your visit.
Photography
We will send you a photography consent form in advance if we would like to photograph your group during their visit.
Toilets
We have a limited number of toilets available for use by visiting schools. The toilets are located in the Lodge and their location will be pointed out to groups on arrival.
Disabled access
Disabled access is currently limited to a single mile-long loop around part of our grounds. There is a disabled toilet. Please advise us in advance if any of your students use wheelchairs or have walking difficulties.
Independent exploration
If you would like to stay in the Arboretum after your session, please book this in advance.
Departure
Your confirmation letter includes the time that your session will finish. Please allow a little extra time for using the toilets and collecting your bags when arranging for your coach to collect you.
Follow-up activities
Post-visit activities are provided as part of the detailed information for your session. At the end of your session, you will be given a feedback questionnaire and postcards for the children. Please complete these and return them to us, as they are integral to the evaluation of our programmes.
Another visit in the future
If you would like to plan another visit to the Arboretum or the Botanic Garden, perhaps during a different season, please contact secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk for details.
Queries
If you have any queries about your visit that have not been addressed here, please contact Lauren Baker on secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk or telephone 01865 286 694.
