Unlocking a love of learning with museum visits
Museums and heritage sites are exciting places for learning, connection and endless creativity. They invite young learners to explore stories of the past and new ideas, helping them make sense of the world and their place within it. School visits to museums play an essential role in children’s cultural journeys, offering enriching, hands-on experiences that bring classroom learning to life. For many children, school trips are often their first introduction to museums, sparking curiosity, imagination and a lifelong connection with cultural learning.
At GEM (Group for Education in Museums), we believe that every child should have access to meaningful cultural learning experiences. We support museums to deliver high-quality, inclusive provision for diverse groups, including schools.
Impact backed by data
Our recent research, Children and Young People Engaging with Museums, carried out for Arts Council England, found that museums already place young audiences at the heart of their work: 100% of survey respondents said they actively engage children and young people, and half reported that their offer has expanded since 2023. However, museums often require support to sustain and strengthen this engagement.
Interviews conducted as part of GEM’s Museum Learning Report revealed that museum practitioners need “advice on connecting with teachers”, “training on how to advocate internally”, and guidance on “linking collections with learning”. Through our training programme, GEM helps museum practitioners develop the skills and confidence to work effectively with schools. Our Engaging with Schools: From Planning to Evaluation course empowers learning professionals to design relevant, curriculum-linked experiences that meet teachers’ needs and broaden access to museums. Our long-standing course, Developing SEND Inclusive Learning with Confidence, ensures that museum learning provision reflects the diversity of children’s experience, helping practitioners embed accessibility and inclusion at the heart of their work.
How we’re empowering museums to reach schools
We have also launched the Arts Scholars Enriching Lives Grant Programme (2025–2027), supporting nine museums across the UK to deliver innovative learning projects inspired by fine, decorative and applied art collections. This new three-year programme enables museums and heritage organisations to create learning experiences for primary and secondary pupils through hands-on engagement with works of art, nurturing creativity and deepening young people’s connection with museums.
Alongside training and networking, GEM works closely with partners and policymakers to ensure museum learning remains recognised as a vital part of children’s cultural learning. Most recently, GEM responded to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, demonstrating our continued advocacy for the sector. This response provided an important opportunity to highlight the contribution of museums, heritage and cultural settings to the National Curriculum, emphasising their role in enriching learning, supporting
Celebrating the power of learning in museums
By sharing evidence and best practice from across our network, GEM advocates for a world where cultural learning is not seen as an add-on, but as an essential part of every young person’s development.
As we join Artsmark Celebration Week, we are proud to support museums delivering inclusive and quality learning across the country. When museums and schools work together, they create not only meaningful learning experiences but also a lifelong love of learning. Beyond the classroom, these partnerships support communities, promote health and wellbeing and create a sense of belonging that enriches lives.
So, this Celebration Week why not book your next museum visit and see what you will discover? Share your story with us.
