School visits 2024 - 25

Bookings for the 2024 Autumn Term are now open!

Please read the information below to find out all you need to know about our programme and to submit your enquiry form. 

Visits in 2025

If you would like to visit us in 2025, bookings for these dates will open later in the year. Please wait until then to submit your enquiry forms. 

To keep up to date on announcements and news, sign up to our Schools Newsletter.

At the Royal Observatory Greenwich we want to inspire and assist in the learning of all things space and astronomy!

On this page you find information about our schools programme, our free classroom activities and digital resources, along with opportunities for teachers and students to get more involved with our programmes.

If you're interested in maritime, history, and art school sessions, you can check out the other learning programmes at other Royal Museums Greenwich sites here.

Royal Observatory onsite schools programme

Bookings for our onsite schools programme for the 2024 Autumn Term are now open! Take a look at our onsite programme to see what sessions we have on offer.

Bookings for January - July 2025 will open later in the year. 

Digital outreach programme 

For schools that might not be able to visit us, we'll be offering digital outreach sessions in 2024-25. Take a look at our online outreach programme to see what we have on offer.

 

Onsite sessions - find out more Digital sessions - find out more

Ready to book a school session?

If you already know what sessions you'd like to book, here are some quick links to get your booking with us underway.

Booking an onsite session Booking a digital session

What's new

Here's a selection of new things we've been working on this past year!

Think Space Lectures

Listen to astrophysicists from across the UK talk about cutting-edge research in space science with our free online lectures.

Pluto and the Dwarf Planets

Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomers explore Pluto and explain why it's not considered a planet anymore.

Astronomy Ambassadors Group

Meet other like-minded young people between 16 and 21 years old and become a part of the Royal Observatory's future

Space and astronomy highlights in 2024

Want to know what to see in the night sky in 2024? Royal Observatory astronomers pick out the must-see moments

Our Sun

Join astronomers from the Royal Observatory Greenwich to find out more about our life-giving star.

Coordinate Systems

Coordinate systems confusing you? Join our astronomers as we break down coordinates here on Earth, and coordinate systems used for the night sky!

The history of the Royal Observatory Greenwich

Why does the Royal Observatory have the Prime Meridian? How long has the site been here? And why does the Observatory exist at all? To answer all these questions, and more, join Royal Observatory astronomers and curators and explore the history of the Royal Observatory Greenwich! 

Teacher opportunities and training

Find out how to connect with us and what we can offer you

Sign up to our mailing list

Be the first to find out about the development of our schools programme and new learning resources.

Teacher Forum

Find out more about our Teacher Forum for primary and secondary education

Free teacher training with the Royal Observatory Greenwich

We offer free training for teachers and trainee teachers

Online FREE Primary Teacher Training Course

The science learning team have teamed up with FutureLearn to create our first ever online course designed specifically for teachers and teachers in training at primary level.

Online FREE Secondary Teacher Training Course

The science learning team have teamed up with FutureLearn once again, to create an online course designed specifically for teachers and teachers in training at secondary level.

Networks and forums

Find out more about networks for presenters and forums for teachers and community leaders at Royal Museums Greenwich

Student opportunities and further learning

Check out the resources and experiences we have on offer for your students to help them explore astronomy further

Royal Observatory Greenwich Schools Podcasts

The astronomers at the Royal Observatory Greenwich have a large selection of podcasts for you to choose from.  Whether your interest is in the current night sky, cutting edge science or the career path of people working in the industry there will be something to suit.

Astronomy Ambassadors Group

Meet other like-minded young people between 16 and 21 years old and become a part of the Royal Observatory's future

Astronomy blog

Read our monthly guides to the night sky, and check out the latest news from the Royal Observatory Greenwich astronomy team

Think Space Lectures

Listen to astrophysicists from across the UK talk about cutting-edge research in space science with our free online lectures.

Work Experience

Gain valuable skills with work experience at Royal Museums Greenwich

Astronomy careers information

If you're interested in a career in astronomy or space science we'd love to help you get started.

Astronomy and science learning resources

Find all of our classroom activities and animated videos here

Applied FiltersAstronomy
Classroom activity
Exotic matter in the Solar System
Students calculate the mass of dark matter in the solar system and compare that to the amount of dark energy present.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Radioactive Dating of Meteorites
Students calculate the age of a meteorite by looking at the half life of one of its elements - rubidium. Accompanies the video 'How do we know how old the Sun is?'.
Key Stage:
Post-16
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Calculating the Mass of the Sun
Students use Kepler's 3rd law and Saturn's orbit to calculate the mass of the Sun. Accompanies the video 'How do we know how old the Sun is?'.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Calculating the Energy Output of the Sun
In this activity students use Einstein's most famous equation to calculate the amount of energy released from nuclear fusion reactions in the Sun. Accompanies the video 'How do we know how old the Sun is?'.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Acceleration due to Gravity
In this practical activity, students use F=ma to calculate the acceleration due to gravity and can investigate how the area of a parachute can affect the landing force of a space probe. Accompanies the video Newton's Laws of Motion.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Resultant Forces and Acceleration
A classroom activity that uses mathematics to reinforce learning about resultant forces and acceleration. Accompanies the video 'Newton's Laws of Motion'.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Maths, Science
Classroom activity
Forces on a Space Probe
A classroom activity in which students learn about the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces and how they are considered when designing a space probe to land safely on another planet or moon.
Key Stage:
Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4
Subject:
Astronomy, Science