The Ocean Conservation Trust - National Marine Aquarium

What We Offer Visiting Schools:

• Aquarium Visits: Immersive experiences at our conservation aquarium, with options for educator-led tours and workshops exploring subjects including STEM, careers, art, and more – or self-led explorer visits, where groups can independently discover exhibits at their own pace.
• Outreach Sessions: We bring the Ocean to your classroom or event with exciting, hands-on learning – from interactive workshops to shows or stands at careers fairs and exhibitions, all delivered by our expert team.
• Virtual Experiences: Live, interactive digital sessions streamed directly to your school, making Ocean literacy accessible wherever you are.

Why Choose Us for an Educational Visit:

The National Marine Aquarium (NMA) in Plymouth is our conservation aquarium, caring for over 5,000 incredible marine animals and the home of the Ocean Conservation Trust. Located on the stunning shores of the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park, it provides a truly unique learning environment where the Ocean comes to life for your students.

Our educational visits are fully curriculum-linked, designed to support and enhance classroom learning through hands-on, interactive experiences. Our sessions are tailored to meet specific learning objectives, ensuring your students gain both knowledge and inspiration.

Whether it’s an immersive in-person visit to the NMA, an interactive session brought to you or a live virtual experience from your classroom, our team creates exciting, tailored programmes that leave students motivated, curious, and ready to make a difference for our Ocean.

Accreditation and Awards:

Learning Team of the Year at School Travel Award 2026, BIAZA winner in the Education Category for STEMFest 2025, Finalists for the ‘Best Education workshop’ School Travel Awards 2025, finalists for the ‘Learning team of the year’ School Travel Awards 2025, Widening horizons- Millfields inspired – Gold Ambassadors 2025

Group Sizes Catered For:

Minimum booking size 12+

Itineraries, Resources, and Workshops:

Timings and order of activities will depend on your arrival/departure times and availability of our Learning Centre spaces. Please see an example timetable below:

Arrival & Introduction 10:00-10:30

Tour 10:30-12:00

Lunch 12:00-12:30

Workshop 12:30-14:00

Explore & Depart 14:00+

Workshops: Please see our guides: https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-experiences/education/oct-learning-education-visits/

Risk Assessment:

https://oceanconservationtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/OCT-Learning-Risk-Assessment-2025-2026-1-2.pdf

Check out our FREE educational resources: https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-experiences/education/ocean-classroom-resources/

Education Department Information:

Our award-winning industry leading Learning team are happy to help with any queries you have prior to booking.

Please contact us for any enquiries or accessible needs Monday to Friday 9am-5pm. learning@oceanconservationtrust.org 01752 275233

You can also complete are Enquiry Form.

Pricing Information:

Aquarium Visits: All school students visiting the Aquarium will need a school Student Entrance Ticket for £5.50 per student. This allows your students to enjoy a self-led exploration of the exhibit spaces.

We also offer optional extras of guided tours of the aquarium for an additional £1 per student, premium tours for £2.50 per student and/or a workshop for an additional £1.50 per student.

Virtual Experiences £120 for a class up to 32 students £60 per additional class

Outreach Workshops £150 per class (32 students) Shows & assemblies £100 (no limit)

Facilities:

Our Aquarium is split into different zones. Each exhibit zone has been themed to reflect a different part of the Ocean, and the animals that are found within it.

The Learning Centre is a dynamic hub for Ocean education and exploration. Designed to accommodate up to 200 pupils, our facility is divided into specialised spaces, each tailored to facilitate unique learning experiences. From immersive science experiments to captivating STEM presentations, pupils are engaged and inspired.

• The Coral Reef Room offers a versatile environment for workshops and crafts.
• Deck 5 provides expansive views of Plymouth Sound for larger events and activities.
• Outside when weather allows, the Blue Mind Garden allows pupils to have a relaxed lunch break and unwind amidst nature, overlooking Plymouth Sound National Marine Park.
• Our Aqualab is the perfect place to inspire your students in all things STEM.

Accessibility and Disabled Facilities:

We have three disabled parking spaces for minibuses at the rear of the aquarium (PL4 0DX), available on a first-come basis with a valid Blue Badge.

A coach turning bay and drop-off point are located behind the building for safe student unloading.

The aquarium offers ramps, lifts, and accessible toilets, but no hoists or adult changing facilities.

Boat and beach workshops are not wheelchair accessible. Please inform us of any accessibility needs when booking.

Opening Hours:

The Aquarium is open from 10am-5pm (last entry is at 4pm). School visitors are welcome to arrive and depart whenever they wish within this time frame. However, most schools plan to arrive around 10am and depart at 2.30pm.

Other Information:

We aim to keep our prices as low as possible to make our sessions accessible and affordable for as many pupils as possible. Where we can, we secure additional funding from external partners to further increase accessibility and keep costs to a minimum.

To ensure all educators can engage with our work, we also provide three free virtual events each year, open to anyone working in education to sign up and take part. In addition, we offer a wide range of free resources on our website, giving educators tools and materials to support learning and inspire pupils beyond our sessions.

100% of proceeds support our vital marine conservation work, meaning every booking not only inspires young people but also contributes to the protection and restoration of our Ocean.

Enquire now: email learning@oceanconservationtrust.org or complete our enquiry form.

Check out our FREE educational resources: https://oceanconservationtrust.org/ocean-experiences/education/ocean-classroom-resources/

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