Students will visit a 250 year old watermill located in Hall Green. It's a great place to learn about local history and discover the inspiration of J.R.R Tolkien.

On this page we have provided comprehensive information for teachers bringing students on a visit to Sarehole Mill, it includes pre-visit and on the day information.

About our sessions

Our taught sessions are themed around National Curriculum topics, and local history is at the forefront of our programme at Sarehole Mill. Our outdoor setting makes it the perfect place to give your topics a local perspective, discovering a local Prehistoric site, or discovering the inspiration behind the famous J.R.R Tolkien who spent his childhood growing up at Sarehole. Students will develop key skills and gain valuable knowledge for subjects such as geography, history, art and literacy.

Pre-Visit Information

Address

Sarehole Mill
Cole Bank Road
Hall Green
Birmingham
B13 0BD

How to contact us

All visits require advanced booking - this includes teacher previews and taught sessions.

For enquiries or to make a booking contact the Education Bookings Team on 0121 348 8001 or emaileducationbookings@birminghammuseums.org.uk

Risk Assessments

The risk assessment does not cover any time spent away from the site. Several sessions involve leaving the site, involve road crossings and may encounter the general public. You are advised to complete your own risk assessment to cover offsite activity. We strongly suggest you visit us beforehand.

Download the school risk assessment below.

Teacher Previews

If you are a first time visitor to Sarehole Mill it is recommended that a member of your teaching staff attends a pre-visit. Proof of teacher status must be shown at the ticket desk on entry (e.g. General Teaching Council membership, union membership card or signed headed school paper). Please contact the bookings team to arrange this.

Facilitated Sessions

Sarehole Mill is primarily an outdoor site, and many of the sessions have an outdoor element or take place entirely outside. These sessions will continue outside rain or shine, and will only be brought indoors for extreme weather conditions, where students can take part in wet weather alternative activities. It is therefore essential that children come prepared for outdoor activities with appropriate footwear, waterproofs, coats and hats in cold weather and water bottles in hot weather.

Self-Guided Visits

Self-guided visits are not available at Sarehole Mill. School groups see the site as part of each taught session.

Home Educators

We offer a warm welcome to Home Educating groups. All of our taught sessions are available for home education groups. We can adapt the content of the taught sessions to fit with mixed age groups, abilities and needs. A minimum charge may apply.

Disabled Access

As a historic, listed building, we are unable to install a lift within the mill. This will restrict access to the top floor to those who are unable to use stairs. This will not affect any school sessions, there is still access to the ground and first floor, the main working floors of the mill. Some sessions involve a trip to Moseley Bog which is accessed via steps. See Accessibility Information for full details.

Alternative accessible activities can be arranged with prior notice, to inform the team contact Education Bookings Team.

Clothing

Workshops take place either in the Mill or outdoors, the Mill is unheated, and the floors are uneven. Please dress appropriately such as; waterproof coats, scarves, hats (woolly and sun hats) and. Footwear, school shoes are not suitable, your group must be dressed to be able to spend 2 hours outdoors.

Goody Bags

Goodie bags are available to pre-order and can either be paid for on the day or via invoice to your school. We have a range of goodie bags to order (subject to availability):

• £1.75 bag - Sarehole pen and stacking crayons in a bag
• £2.00 bag - Sarehole pen and torch in a bag
• £2.25 bag - Sarehole pen and magnet in a bag

To pre-order your bags please download the goody bag order form and send this to educationbookings@birminghammuseums.org.uk

Sensory Bag

School Trips can be overwhelming. Our sensory bags are a great resource to support the experience of neurodivergent students with sensory needs. The bags contains a range of resources such as fidget toys, a magnifying glass, ear defenders and interactive picture books to help keep pupils engaged and calm during their visit. Please ask your Learning and Engagement Officer at the beginning of your trip if you would like a sensory bag for one of your pupils.

Pupil / Teacher Ratio

Most sessions involve working in smaller groups and leaving site, for this reason we require the minimum ratios below. This does not include adults required for 1:1 support. Prehistory session includes crossing roads to Moseley Bog – please ensure your adult numbers reflect this.

• For Foundation and Key Stage 1 groups a minimum of 1 adult to every 6 children is required.
• For Key Stage 2 and over a minimum of 1 adult for every 10 children is required.

A failure to meet these ratios may result in your session being cancelled upon arrival at the mill.

On the Day Information

Arrival

School groups should arrive 15 minutes before the start of their first taught session. This will allow for pupils to disembark from the coach, drop off lunch bags and visit the toilets.

Late arrival may result in your taught sessions being shortened. Sessions may not be carried over due to other groups visiting.

Coach Drop Off and Parking

Coaches are welcome to drop pupils off outside the main gates of the mill on Cole Bank Road. Coaches may remain parked outside the main gates for the duration of the session if they wish.

For mini-buses and cars, there is a free car park next to the mill where they can park.

Schools Entrance

The entrance for schools is found within the public car park next to the site. Schools will be welcomed through the side gate and into the site by the Learning and Engagement Officer.

Coaches can pull up by the main gate but classes will be asked to then walk around to the side gate in the car park.

Classroom

There is one classroom which is used for workshops and as a lunch space.

Lunch Area

We are a small heritage site and have no designated lunch area, however one class can have lunch in the classroom on site.

There is a field next to the mill which is encouraged for lunches in the nice weather.

Cloakroom

There is not a dedicated school cloakroom but teachers and students may leave their belongings in the classroom which is a secure space, but it is recommended to keep high value items on you at all times.

Toilets

Toilets are available as well as an accessible toilet (a key must be collected from the main reception for access to this).

Museum Shop

There is a museum shop available with a range of pocket money priced items. However, it is a small space so please let the Learning and Engagement Officer know as you arrive if you wish for the students to use the shop. 8 people can enter the shop at one time. Alternatively, you can pre-order goodie bags upon booking your visit.

Pupil Behaviour

• It is the responsibility of the class teachers and accompanying adults to control the behaviour of pupils.
• Taught sessions take place within the mill where machinery is often in operation, or in an outdoor environment, including public spaces and crossing roads. Please ensure you have enough adults to supervise all children.
• Pupils are expected to show respect, listen to the museum staff and follow instructions. If it is felt the children are putting themselves, others or the museum in harm’s way you may be asked to leave.
• Adults must stay with the pupils at all times.

Photography

Photography is permitted. If you are taking photographs in your taught session please let the Learning and Engagement Officer know.