SCHOOLS
we are now taking bookings for school groups throughout the 2024 season.
Please email enquiries@bignorromanvilla.co.uk
Step back in time almost 2000 years and spend a day at one of Roman Britain's most extensive rural estates with your school or home education group. Our interactive, cross- curricular visits introduce children to both the grandeur and the grind of Roman daily life as well as ancient technology and mythology, while encouraging thoughtful comparison with our own lives today.
Why are we so unique?
Bignor is situated in one of the most unspoilt corners of Sussex, at the heart of the South Downs National Park - a landscape largely unchanged since Roman times.
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Walk on and touch our vivid 2000 year old Roman Mosaics - you will not get closer any where else.
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Low-technology learning - our off-grid site offers a refreshing change from computer-based teaching methods,
with an emphasis on sensory learning.
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Use of our picnic area overlooking the South Downs (cover available in case of rain)
and mazes.
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KS2
- from £7.50 per child, accompanying adults free
Choose from the following to bring Roman Britain to life for your pupils:
Who's Who at The Villa?
Our classic themed day invites your pupils to walk in the shoes of people living and working at Bignor almost 2000 years ago, and to identify similarities and differences with their own lives.
This social, story-based approach examines key elements of the Romanisation of Britain while inspiring imagination and empathy for our not-so-distant past.
Archaeologists for a day
Curiosity and enquiry are the order of the day, as we explore the remains
at Bignor through the fascinating discipline of archaeology.
With cross-curricular links to science, maths and art, this evidence-based
day may be especially suitable for older groups.
KS3 - KS5
- £4.50 admission per child, accompanying adults free.
Additional £50 per guided tour.
£40 per 60 minute hands on workshop (see below)
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We find that our older children benefit much more from their visit if it includes at least a guided tour.
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For an additional charge our hands on workshops involving 2 - 3 activities based on our curriculum linked themed days can complement your class's Latin or Classical Civilisations curriculum.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements.
Practical information
Day long visits generally run from 10am to 2pm, with between 30 - 45 minutes for lunch.
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We can accommodate no more than 90 children on one day, and no more than 60 during the months of October, March and April. If your group is larger than this, please contact us to discuss your options.
School staff remain responsible for the welfare and behaviour of their students while on site. Bignor Roman Villa staff do not count as part of your student/staff ratio.
There is no electricity on site, and many areas are open-air. Due to our rural nature, children must come adequately prepared for cold/rain/sun, depending on the time of year. Our museum buildings are Grade II listed, and so accessibility is unavoidably limited for certain wheelchair users.
For all of these reasons, a pre-visit is essential for all new schools and new teachers, and can be arranged at most convenient times by emailing enquiries@bignorromanvilla.co.uk
Home-education Groups
We welcome visits from home-education groups, whether guided or self-led. For groups of 10 or more (including adults) we can build a bespoke visit to suit your specific needs and interests.
Please contact us to discuss your requirements and prices.
ADULTS
Group Visits
Visit with your group, club or society and benefit from a group rate discount for parties of 10+.
Take advantage of our café, local walks and ample free car and coach parking.
Outreach Talks
We can give a 1-hour illustrated talk, 'An Introduction to Bignor Roman Villa', at your society or association. For this, we ask for a £60 donation to Bignor Roman Villa Charitable Trust.
Please note there may be an additional mileage charge applied: this will be calculated prior to booking.
CONTACT AND BOOKING
For all educational enquiries, or to make a booking, please email us with your preferred dates.
A member of staff will then contact you to discuss your requirements.
Click on the link to download
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We do not charge for cancellations more than 30 days in advance.
Cancellation charges will apply for visits cancelled within 30 days unless:
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The school is closed due to a Coronavirus outbreak at the school and advice from Public Health England
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Local Authorities, Councils or Government close schools or stop all school trips within the UK
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Cancellation fees are:
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25% of the visit cost if cancellation is within 30 days
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50% if cancellation is within 14 days of the visit.
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100% if cancellation is within 72 hours of the visit.
All cancellations must be made in writing (email is acceptable)
If for any reason you are not able to visit or cannot bring the number of children specified in your original booking, please let us know as far in advance as possible. This is to enable us to give our staff enough notice if they are no longer required to work.
We will only charge you for the number of children who attend on the day. If your visit is rebooked for the same academic year we will waive the cancellation charges.
CANCELLATION POLICY