Secondary school visits at the Garden

Our Education Programme is currently fully booked. The Education Team are taking bookings from October 2023 onwards.

Oxford Botanic Garden is a world-class university botanic garden with outstanding collections from around the globe. Our sessions are not classroom-based and include a variety of hands-on activities. All sessions are designed to support the curriculum whilst promoting a love of the natural environment, to support and encourage future generations of botanists and conservationists.

About school visits

We offer a range of sessions for Key Stage 3, 4, 5 and further education groups. Each session lasts between 90 minutes and 2 hours and has a maximum capacity of 35 students.

Please note that there is a charge for all education sessions. Our sessions fill up quickly, so book early to avoid disappointment.

Sessions do not include a general tour of the Garden, so please make sure you book extra time with us if you wish to explore afterwards.

Nepenthes - Oxford Botanic Garden - Glasshouses

Adaptation and Agriculture

Available to book weekdays from Monday 13th - Friday 31st March (excl. bank holidays).

This session covers a range of adaptations that plants have evolved in different environments and look at some of the more unusual species in our collections. The importance of these adaptations in terms of biodiversity will be discussed. The effect of agriculture on the adaptations of typical crop plants will be explored and the impact mankind has on plant evolution and conservation shown. Key points will be highlighted with unique plants in our collections.

Spores to Seeds: Plant Evolution and Seed Dispersal

Available to book weekdays from Monday 17th April - Friday 5th May (excl. bank holidays).

During this session, we will learn about the evolution of plants and their impact on the environment. The difference between seed and non-seed plants will be explored, followed by an in depth exploration of seed diversity and dispersal mechanisms. Live plants and seed collections will be used as demonstration materials for handling in this session.

This session is designed for Key Stage 3.

Can't find what you're looking for?

There are more secondary education sessions available at our other site, Harcourt Arboretum, a 130 acre site with rare trees, native woodland and spectacular wildflower meadows.

Click the link below to find out more.

Secondary Education at the Arboretum

Charges

Session	Max numbers	Charge
Secondary school half-day session facilitated by Education Officer	35	£125.00
Secondary school full-day session facilitated by Education Officer	35	£250.00
Bespoke school programmes (full day, selection of workshops)	Flexible	Contact us
Indoor lunch space at the Botanic Garden (45 minutes)	35	£20.00

How to book

If you would like to make a booking for any of our sessions, please contact Lauren Baker at secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk to discuss your needs.

To discuss any bespoke programmes, joint visits to any of our partner sites, or if you have any questions about our sessions you can email us directly at secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk.

Not a Secondary School?

Oxford Botanic Garden and Arboretum is here to support all forms of education. It is an excellent location for groups from colleges, adult education establishments, home schooling groups and Universities to visit as part of their programmes. Our Education teams can arrange bespoke sessions to suit the specification and degree of difficulty required for any group. Please get in touch with Lauren Baker at secondaryeducation@obg.ox.ac.uk to discuss your exact requirements.