Swindon’s newly unveiled Museum & Art Swindon (MAS) at the Civic Offices on Euclid Street has started welcoming schoolchildren from across the Borough, offering them a hands-on journey through Swindon’s fascinating historical and artistic heritage. The recent visit by pupils from Greenmeadow Primary School marked a successful trial run of MAS’s Schools Discovery Programme, an initiative designed to bring the past alive for the town’s young residents.
For Greenmeadow’s young explorers, the experience was a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in the town’s Stone Age roots. The children had the chance to handle ancient artefacts, from Stone Age hand axes to arrowheads, and even got to dress in period costumes, allowing them to step into the lives of Swindon’s earliest hunter-gatherers. As part of their history curriculum, these activities gave students a richer understanding of the era and brought their classroom learning to life.
Mrs Chandler, a teacher at Greenmeadow Primary School, expressed the school’s enthusiasm: “We had a brilliant day at the Museum! The children were captivated by the hands-on activities, and being able to touch a real mammoth tooth was truly awe-inspiring. It was fantastic for them to experience history in such a direct way.”
The Schools Discovery Programme, now fully launched, provides tailored learning sessions suitable for children of all ages, from Early Years through to Post-16. Each visit is guided by a specialist educational team, ensuring that pupils gain a deep understanding of Swindon’s historical and artistic legacy. Sessions cover topics across Art, History, and English, allowing students to explore artefacts up close, participate in interactive activities, and receive access to pre- and post-visit resources.
The MAS collection itself is impressive. Curated with both local history and national significance in mind, it includes everything from Jurassic-era marine fossils and Saxon artefacts to Victorian industrial items and contemporary British art by renowned artists such as Lucian Freud, L.S. Lowry, and Grayson Perry. For the children of Swindon, the collection offers a truly localised, tangible connection to their community’s story.
Mags Parker, Learning & Engagement Officer at MAS, said, “School visits give us a unique chance to share Swindon’s heritage with the younger generation. Pupils not only learn about history; they experience it first-hand by interacting with objects that are thousands of years old and unearthed in their own locality. It’s a wonderful form of time-travel for them.”
Councillor Marina Strinkovsky, Swindon Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Placemaking and Planning, highlighted the importance of the programme, saying, “Moving the collection from Apsley House to the Civic Offices has been a wonderful opportunity to make Swindon’s history accessible to young people across the Borough. The trial visits have been very well received, and I look forward to seeing even more school groups take advantage of this fantastic resource.”
Schools interested in booking a session are encouraged to visit the Museum & Art Swindon website to view available options or reach out to the Learning Team at MASLearning@swindon.gov.uk.
