Primary Schools
At Orleans House Gallery, we create space for pupils and teachers to engage with art and culture beyond the classroom. A visit to the gallery gives pupils the chance to explore creativity through making, exploring, and experimenting.
We create a welcoming environment where all pupils can take part. Activities can be adapted to meet a range of needs, including SEND and mixed-ability groups. All sessions, self-guided visits and resources link to our exhibitions, artists and natural surroundings. All workshops and self-guided visits support the National Curriculum.
We are now taking bookings for the 2026–27 academic year.
Workshops and visits for primary schools
Work with a professional artist in one of our practical sessions or explore the Gallery independently using one of our self-guided visits. All sessions spark creativity, curiosity and critical thinking and take place onsite at Orleans House Gallery.
From October to February, all visits will experience Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life, This exhibition celebrates one of the most important yet historically overlooked artists of the twentieth century. Moody’s sculptural language blends Modernism, spirituality and global mythologies, using materials ranging from carved wood to concrete and resin. We invite pupils to come and explore this thought-provoking exhibition and take part in a hands-on workshop, whilst developing their creative and critical thinking skills.
- Introduce your students to an art gallery in a fun and playful artist-led session. Students will explore Orleans House Gallery with our artist, discovering the art around them. They will use our object boxes to make personal connections and to imagine and ask questions. Finally, the students will have the opportunity to create their own drawing.
- Suitable for all early years groups (Nursery / Reception)
- Supports the EYFS framework
- How can mark making develop your skills as an artist? In this workshop, students will work with an artist to explore mark making using a range of materials. Taking inspiration from our exhibitions and collections, students will create their own drawing.
- Suitable for Reception
- Supports the EYFS framework
- How can mark making develop your skills as an artist? In this workshop, students will work with an artist to explore different marks that we can make with a variety of materials. A visit to our Main Gallery will provide inspiration to practice these new skills and create their own drawing.
- Suitable for Key Stages 1-3
- Curriculum links:
- Art and Design: develop techniques, learn about a range of artists, improve the mastery of art and design techniques, to use drawing and sculpture.
- Literacy: develop understanding, discussion and sharing ideas.
- Learn how to turn line drawings into 3D forms. Students will work with an artist, then use wire to create their own sculptural piece.
- Suitable for Key Stages 2-3
- Curriculum links:
- Art and Design: develop techniques, learn about a range of artists, improve the mastery of art and design techniques, to use drawing and sculpture.
- Literacy: develop understanding, discussion and sharing ideas.
- Explore printmaking techniques and use texture to build a relief plate. Working with an artist, students will learn the process and create their own printed pieces.
- Suitable for Key Stages 1-2
- Curriculum links:
- Art and Design: develop techniques, learn about a range of artists, improve the mastery of art and design techniques, to use drawing and sculpture.
- Literacy: develop understanding, discussion and sharing ideas.
- Visit Orleans House Gallery with your class for a self-guided visit and explore Ronald Moody: Sculpting Life. This exhibition celebrates the Jamaican born sculptor’s innovative practice.
- Students will use our creative resources and trails to look closely at the artworks. They will sketch, share ideas, and ask questions, developing their creative and critical thinking skills in the gallery
- Suitable for Reception, Primary and Secondary schools
- Available October 2026 – March 2027
- Explore our exhibition and site from an open ended, inclusive perspective with a self-guided trail designed by artist Abigail Hunt.
- This self-led tour includes creative and discussion-based activities to help you and your pupils explore Orleans House Gallery inside and outside
- Students will engage with all their senses to experience the different spaces
- Activities encourage them to think about how artworks make them feel or what they mean.
- In this tour students will:
- Develop ideas for their own artworks, being inspired by the things they see and recording their observations to use later
- Build confidence in looking at and talking about artworks and sharing their ideas with others, whilst listening to the opinions of others
- Make observational drawings using basic materials
- Use their experiences to develop thinking and ideas for their own art making
- Art and Design National Curriculum links:
- Exploring their ideas whilst recording their observations and experiences
- Evaluating and analysing the creative works of other artists using the language of art and make links to their own artwork
- Experimenting with drawing techniques
- Suitable for Key Stage 1
- Available March 2027 – July 2027
- Look closely at Orleans House Gallery with your students and consider the past, future, and present. Students will use this visit to reflect on how they are connected to the gallery and find inspiration in the building and the natural environment surrounding it.
- This artist designed tour will help students:
- Develop ideas for their own artworks, being inspired by the things they see and recording their observations to use later
- Reflect on the past and make historical links, making them relevant to themselves today and using them to expand their own ideas
- Build confidence in looking at and talking about artworks and sharing their ideas with others, whilst listening to the opinions of others
- Make observational drawings using basic materials
- Use their experiences to develop thinking and ideas for their own art making
- Art and Design National Curriculum links:
- Exploring their ideas whilst recording their observations and experiences
- Evaluating and analysing the creative works of other artists using the language of art and make links to their own artwork
- Experimenting with drawing techniques
- The tour also makes links to curriculum skills in History, Geography, Literacy and RSE
- Look differently at the space within Orleans House Gallery with this artist-designed self-led tour.
- This tour encourages students to place themselves as unique individuals within this location. Ideas for practical and discussion-based activities will encourage your students to take notice of the details within the architecture and the outside spaces as well as exploring the exhibitions.
- This artist designed tour will help students:
- In this tour, students will:
- Develop ideas for their own artworks by taking time to look and think differently, exploring the details around them and recording their observations
- Build confidence in looking at and talking about artworks and sharing their ideas with others
- Listen to others and build skills in understanding and considering options and thoughts different to their own
- Experiment with mark making and observational drawing using basic materials
- Reflect on their own experiences and use them to develop thinking and ideas for their own future art making
- Art and Design National Curriculum links:
- Exploring their ideas whilst recording their observations and experiences
- Evaluating and analysing the creative works of other artists using the language of art and make links to their own artwork
- Experimenting with drawing techniques
- The tour also makes links to curriculum skills in Literacy and RSE
Capacity
- All workshops are designed for classes of up to 30 students. The fee includes a visit to Orleans House Gallery, an artist-led workshop, and all materials.
- There is no charge for accompanying adults. For printmaking sessions, we ask for at least three adults to support the group.
- Each school can book one year group per academic year.
Cancellation Policy: We will endeavour to reschedule sessions where possible. Cancellations less than one week in advance will still be charged the full fee.
Join Our Teachers Art Forum
The Teachers Art Forum shares best practice and offers CPD opportunities. Sessions are shaped by the group and currently consist of a discussion point and an artist led CPD activity, and we welcome teachers from all subjects and key stages. The forum is free to join, and all sessions are free to access. The Forum is open to any teachers or teaching staff with an interest in the art curriculum.
We support teachers to:
- Develop confidence in delivering curriculum-linked sessions that support National Curriculum outcomes in Art & Design and beyond
- Experience opportunities to extend classroom learning through creative, cross-curricular approaches
- Develop understanding in using open-ended, exploratory creative methods with their pupils
Benefits of belonging to the Forum include:
- Free practical CPD opportunities with professional artists
- Access to advice from creative industry professionals
- A chance to share knowledge and discuss challenges with your peers
- Information about upcoming events and schools’ projects
Primary Art Forum – we meet three times a year.
FAQ
Choose your session
- Explore our range of sessions and choose one that best suits your class and curriculum focus.
- Sessions link to our exhibitions, artists, and spaces. They change throughout the year.
Check availability
- Complete the booking form to request a session
- We recommend booking early, as sessions are popular and fill quickly.
- Please tell us any needs, including SEND requirements or access needs.
Confirm your visit
- Once your booking is confirmed, you’ll receive full details to help you prepare. This will include a workshop agreement, timings, what to expect, and practical information for your visit.
- Availability: Artist-led workshops take place on a Tuesday and Wednesday. Self-guided visits take place on Thursdays.
- Please note: Workshops should be booked at least four weeks in advance of the session date.
For all visits, please be aware that there may be members of the public in the building at the same time.
Self-guided visits
- Self-guided visits are free. They offer a flexible way for schools to explore the gallery at their own pace.
- Booking is essential to help us manage capacity and support your group. Once confirmed you will receive full details to to help you prepare. This will include timings, what to expect, and practical inform
Artist-led workshops
- £85 – Richmond borough state school
- £100 – Out-of-borough state school
- £150 – Independent schools
Reduced rates are available for special schools and alternative education providers. Please get in touch to discuss your requirements.
Richmond Arts Service subsidises our school programme. This support allows us to offer lower prices to local schools. We aim to keep our programme accessible and welcome conversations about cost.
Self-guided visits allow you to explore the gallery and exhibitions at your own pace using artist-designed trails. Artist-led workshops are structured sessions led by a professional artist. They include gallery activities and making.
Sessions are led by experienced artists. Students explore the gallery, talk about artworks, and create their own work using different materials.
The activities only need simple drawing materials – paper (loose or a sketchbook) and pencils and something to lean on. Orleans House Gallery can provide paper and clipboards.
Wet materials (marker pens/paint/charcoal) are not allowed in the galleries.
Photography is allowed throughout (with the occasional exception of some temporary exhibitions, please check with a member of staff if you are unsure).
You will receive a digital copy of the trail in advance of the session and a paper one on the day.
Yes. You can book both to extend your visit and explore more.
Yes. Sessions support the Early Years Foundation Stage and the National Curriculum for Art and Design. Some activities also link to history, geography, and literacy.
Artist-led workshops last:
- 2 hours for primary and secondary groups
- 90 minutes for Nursery and Reception
Self-guided visits are flexible. Most activities take 1 to 1.5 hours. You can shorten or extend them to suit your group.
Yes. All visits must be booked in advance. This ensures a safe and well-managed visit.
Yes. We can adapt sessions and resources for different needs, including SEND groups. Please tell us any requirements in the booking form.