Secondary school visits at the Garden

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.

Find out more about our secondary education sessions here .

Information to help you write your risk assessment can be found here.

Nepenthes - Oxford Botanic Garden - Glasshouses

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KS3, KS4 or KS5: Adaptation and Biodiversity

Available to book Tuesday - Thursdays.

Recommended year round.

This session will cover a range of adaptations plants have evolved under different environmental conditions. Students will examine some of the more unusual species in our collections, such as carnivorous, aquatic and parasitic plants, whilst learning about the importance of biodiversity. During the spring and summer, the recently replanted Rock Garden will be used to explore structural, behavioural and physiological adaptations of Mediterranean species.

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KS3: Spores to Seeds: Plant Evolution and Seed Dispersal

Available to book Tuesday - Thursdays.

Recommended year round.

During this session we will learn about the evolution of plants and their impact on the environment. Students will explore the differences between seed and non-seed plants, followed by an in-depth look at seed diversity and dispersal mechanisms using living plants and our seed handling collection.

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KS4 or KS5: Evolution and Classification

Available to book Tuesday - Thursdays.
Recommended from April - October.

This session will cover the evolution of plants and their taxonomic relationships. Students will learn how plants evolved from primitive single-celled photosynthetic organisms to one of the most diverse kingdoms on the planet. Students will be introduced to the binomial naming system, and the principles of classification using our Taxonomic beds.

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KS3: Hunt the Cure: the Role of Plants in Medicine

Available to book Tuesday - Thursdays.

Recommended from April - October.

This session will cover the role of plants as a source of medicine. Using our medicinal beds, this session will cover traditional medicine and modern medicine, touching upon some of the research underway at the University of Oxford. Students will gain an understanding of the chemical compounds that different plants contain and why preserving species is important for global health.

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KS4 or KS5: Human Impact on the Environment

Available to book Tuesday - Thursdays.

Recommended from April - October.

This session will explore plant biodiversity and the risk factors of extinction. Students will learn about genetic diversity, gene pools, and genetic erosion in species. Agricultural systems and the impact of monocultures will be discussed using commercial crops, such as coffee. Social, economic and physical factors of different conservation strategies will be discussed. The role of plants in nature-based solutions will also be covered using flagship plants in the Botanic Garden, such as giant waterlilies.

Make a self-guided booking enquiry

KS3, KS4 or KS5: Self-guided visits

Available to book weekdays.

Self-guided sessions are available for a wide range of subjects. Supporting material on plant adaptations or evolution is available to compliment biology bookings. Self-guided visits from art, photography or other subjects are very welcome.

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
Self-guided secondary education visits (pre-booking essential)	35	£3 per student