Through our education programme, schools are offered the opportunity to bring groups to any library and to Gallery Oldham for tours, workshops and library skills introductions.
The aims of the programme are to:
- Provide a general introduction and overview of our welcoming library spaces
- Ensure children are aware of library services and how to access them
- Promote age-appropriate information literacy skills
- Encourage regular use of libraries and galleries by children and their families
- Help children discover the pleasure of books, reading and storytelling
- Support school-based learning
- Inspire a love of art and an interest in Oldham’s heritage from an early age
Our class visit sessions are tailored to different age groups to meet their needs and engagement levels. Currently our offer includes sessions for:
- Nursery and Reception: Introduction to the library with stories, songs and rhymes
- Years 1 and 2: An introduction to key library skills and what is available
- Years 3 and 4: A focus on fiction and non-fiction texts, how to find books and information
- Years 5 and 6: Investigating online resources and developing research skills.
All pupils visiting the library are invited to select books to take home to encourage a love of reading and repeat visits to the library. An optional membership form will be provided prior to your visit for parents/guardians to complete.
Gallery Oldham Sessions
We offer both artist and facilitator-led gallery workshops and self-guided visits.
Workshops
The following workshops are two hours long, cost £100 and can be booked on Mondays and Tuesdays in term time:
- What Made Oldham the Biggest Cotton Spinning Town in the World? (KS2) – pupils learn about Oldham’s role in the Industrial Revolution through museum artefacts, original film footage and local archival material.
- Oldhamers at Work (KS2) – pupils explore our exhibitions to discover what jobs people did in Victorian Oldham then create an abstract industrial landscape or a pop-up millscape.
- Oldhamers by the Seaside (KS1 and KS2) – pupils explore Oldham artist Helen Bradley’s painting, ‘A Summer Afternoon on the Sands at Blackpool’, to learn how Oldham people spent their Wakes Week holiday then create a seaside inspired artwork.
- Pattern & Print (KS1 and KS2) – pupils experiment with printmaking techniques to make their own masterpiece based on patterns from our building and exhibitions.
- Art Inspired Poetry (KS2) – pupils write poetry inspired by the original oil painting, ‘The White Mountain’, by Victorian artist William Stott of Oldham.
- Observing and Classifying Animals (KS1) – using our natural history handling collection, pupils learn to observe, identify and classify animals.
- Classification, Adaptation and Food Chains (KS2) – pupils classify animals using observable features, discover how animals are adapted to their habitats and learn about food chains.
Combined Gallery Oldham/Oldham Library Visit
Spend the day with us by combining a library skills visit and a Gallery Oldham workshop. Just select the Combined Venue option when you complete the booking form
SEND Offer
Our school workshops have sensory elements to them and can be adapted to suit any group. Find out more about our SEND Local Offer.
Booking form
If you would like your school to take part in these visits, please complete our booking form:
Bespoke Sessions
Bespoke sessions, tailored to specific requests, are available at a charge of £80. These include storytelling sessions, themed activities and workshops. Available workshop themes include, but are not limited to online safety skills, topic research sessions, and digital workshops.
We welcome class groups of all ages and abilities.
Schools Loans Boxes
General enquiries
Please email librariesandgalleryschools@oldham.gov.uk