EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOOL VISITS

Underfall Yard Trust works to preserve and manage the boatyard for future generations, and as part of this goal we operate an educational programme for schools and community groups. We have the flexibility at Underfall Yard to be able to tailor educational visits to specific class topics or alter activities to accommodate your students’ access needs or modes of learning. If you have any further ideas of how Underfall Yard could enhance your curriculum, even if they are not already listed in our programme, please get in touch and share your ideas and requirements with us.

Many subject areas can be incorporated into visits.

History: Victorians; Industrial Revolution; trade and transport; local history/development of Bristol as a port

Science: Hydraulics; engineering; steam power; energy transfer

Geography: rivers; flood management; land use; development

Technology: Victorian machinery; hydraulics; blacksmithing; engineering

Art: using the yard’s unique collection of buildings and machinery as inspiration.

Teacher/Group Leader’s Visit

Free of charge, booking required

Available online or in person

Catch up with the Education Manager to get to know Underfall Yard and explore the ways we can tailor our programme to your students and their class topics. On-site visits include a short tour of Underfall Yard.

Guest Speaker for School Assemblies

5-10 mins, free of charge

A short talk from our Education Manager on the story of the Floating Harbour and Underfall Yard, demonstrating the importance of knowing and sharing your local history.

Visiting the Yard

Up to 2 hours on site: £4.50 per student

Over 2 hours on site: £6 per student

Minimum charge: £65

Supervising adults attend free of charge.

Guided Tour of Underfall Yard

60 minutes, up to 20 students per tour

Explore behind-the scenes at Underfall Yard to understand the history, science and geography behind the Floating Harbour. Can include demonstrations of the yard’s historic machinery for the 19th and early 20th century. Tours can be tailored to specific learning outcomes and combined with educational workshops and/or guided time with the Visitor Centre’s interactive exhibits.

Optional Add-On for Tours: Undercover at Underfall Yard 30-45 minutes

How much can you remember about Underfall Yard? Use your knowledge and sleuthing skills to find the answers to our quiz around the Yard’s Pump House. Prizes are on offer for those who complete their mission…

Educational Workshops

We offer a variety of educational workshops available for all key stages We cover a variety of topics linked STEM and humanities topics, as well as hands-on enrichment activities. Please see below for a list of our available workshops.

Want to get out on the water?

Here are a few yard-based businesses and neighbours offering activities out on the water for schools and community groups. A brilliant way to add some extra fun and team-building to your day out!

How do I book?

Send an email to our Education Manager at clv@underfallyard.co.uk to discuss your booking. You can also give us a call at 0117 929 3250.

Floaty Boaty 30 minutes

Your students will make their own mini model boat and test its sailability.  Students will be introduced to nautical vocabulary, properties of materials and boating traditions: all boats are girls and boats having naming-ceremonies!

Nautical Knots 30 minutes

Knot tying supports development of dexterity.  Your students will be guided through bowline knots, heaving line knots, carrick bends and many more.  Knot Passports* are available to keep a record of their progress.  Teachers who book Knot Passports can request PDF copies of the resources to continue the activity back at school.

Boat Show! 30 minutes (In development for September 2025)

Can you tell your caravels from your catamarans? Explore the many different types of sailboat through time and around the world. Then, using what you’ve learned, create your own boat design and pitch it to the rest of your group. Who will win the boat show rosette…?

*Class set of passports available for £5

 

Nautical Knots 30 minutes

Knot tying supports development of dexterity.  Your students will be guided through bowline knots, heaving line knots, carrick bends and many more.  Knot Passports* are available to keep a record of their progress.  Teachers who book Knot Passports can request PDF copies of the resources to continue the activity back at school.
*Class set of passports available for £5

Traditional Rope-making 60 minutes

Have a go at one of the Yard’s many maritime crafts, discovering the materials and techniques used to create rope and using your skills to create colourful keepsakes to take home! Best suited to smaller groups of up to ten students

Tides in Bristol 60 minutes

Students will be introduced to nautical vocabulary as they learn about tides and how they affect Bristol.  The session covers Bristol’s history and geography whilst focussing on developing numeracy skills.  Students will learn to read tide timetables, use data to make a prediction as to the height of the River Avon and visit the river to see if their predictions are correct.

Hands-On Hydraulics 60 minutes

Underfall Yard’s Pump House has earned it the nickname “Heart of the Harbour”. Discover the real-life impact of hydraulics on Bristol’s Floating Harbour and have a go at building your own mini-accumulator from recycled materials. Can be combined with a live demonstration of the Yard’s hydraulic pumps (+20 minutes).

Boat Show! 60 minutes (In development for September 2025)

Can you tell your caravels from your catamarans? Explore the many different types of sailboat through time and around the world. Then, using what you’ve learned, create your own boat design and pitch it to the rest of your group. Who will win the boat show rosette…?

Hands-on Hydraulics 60 or 90 minutes

This very practical session focusses on making model hydraulic systems using syringes and tubing.  The session explores the different properties of water and air in relation to pressure; the properties of water and oil in their use in hydraulics; and the problem of leaks in the system.  It pairs really well with a hydraulic pump demonstration.

Tides in Bristol 90 minutes

Students will learn to read tide timetables; use data tables to analyse information and ascertain meaning; make predictions based on multiple data sources and understand the “real world” implications of the data they are using.

Sluices and Water Volume 45 minutes

Did you know the sluices stop Bristol from flooding and from collapsing? Students will use a range of source material to delve into the story of the sluices; carry out calculations and use correct units of measurement to explore the features of the Floating Harbour; and be guided to interrogate the impact of displacement in the Harbour.

Traditional Rope-making 60 minutes

Have a go at one of the Yard’s many maritime crafts, discovering the materials and techniques used to create rope and using your skills to create colourful keepsakes to take home! Best suited to smaller groups of up to ten students

GCSE History

The Underfall Yard is delighted to welcome the growing number of schools who are choosing to study the development of the Harbour for their study of the historic environment. Sessions can range from 45 minute tours to all-day study sessions in our education room.

Our education room is available for hire from £50 per day to allow schools and colleges to develop their own learning schemes inspired by Underfall Yard. In 2017, SGS College were resident at Underfall Yard for a week as part of Level 3 UAL course. Call us on 0117 929 3250 to discuss this option.

Hands-on Hydraulics 60 or 90 minutes

This very practical session focusses on making model hydraulic systems using syringes and tubing. The session explores the different properties of water and air in relation to pressure; the properties of water and oil in their use in hydraulics; and the problem of leaks in the system. It pairs really well with a hydraulic pump demonstration.

Tides in Bristol 90 minutes

Students will learn to read tide timetables; use data tables to analyse information and ascertain meaning; make predictions based on multiple data sources and understand the “real world” implications of the data they are using.

Sluices and Water Volume 45 minutes

Did you know the sluices stop Bristol from flooding and from collapsing? Students will use a range of source material to delve into the story of the sluices; carry out calculations and use correct units of measurement to explore the features of the Floating Harbour; and be guided to interrogate the impact of displacement in the harbour.

Traditional Rope-making 60 minutes

Have a go at one of the Yard’s many maritime crafts, discovering the materials and techniques used to create rope and using your skills to create colourful keepsakes to take home! Best suited to smaller groups of up to ten students

We can often accomodate evening and holiday bookings for children and young people to visit with their community group. If you would like to book any of our school activities for your group, please contact the Education Manager at clv@underfallyard.co.uk

Talk and Activity Package for Community Groups (i.e. Cubs/Brownies, Scouts etc)

60-90 minutes, £4.50 per child (Minimum charge is £65)

A 5-10 minute talk on the history of the Floating Harbour, followed by a group activity. Please select from the activities below:

  • Nautical Knots KS1-KS3 Art and Design/Enrichment

Knotting is a crucial skill for sailing, climbing, fishing and crafting. Complete your own knotting passport to master the most useful maritime knots (and show off to your friends!).

  • Boat Show! KS1-KS2 Art and Design/Enrichment

Can you tell your caravels from your catamarans? Explore the many different types of sailboat through time and around the world. Then, using what you’ve learned, create your own boat design and pitch it to the rest of your group. Who will win the boat show rosette…?

Visit The Yard
Location & Opening Hours
Underfall Visitors Centre
Events
Educational Visits
Tours and Private hire
Underfall Café
Boatyard Services
About The Yard

IDEAS FOR EDUCATIONAL VISITS

Tailored tours of the Workshops and Sluice Room including demonstrations of our unique collection of Victorian machinery.

Hands-on and tactile learning activities

History, architecture and engineering for a dynamic learning experience