British Schools Museum

About the museum

The British Schools Museum occupies a school that was founded in Hitchin in 1810 and followed the monitorial system devised by Joseph Lancaster. In this method one teacher taught older pupils, who in turn taught the younger children, so that a large number of pupils could be taught cheaply. The school was set up about eighty years before the state provided free elementary education for all.

The purpose-built schoolroom opened in 1837, and the museum describes it as the last surviving purpose-built monitorial schoolroom in the world. The Grade II* listed site also has a galleried classroom, later schoolrooms and a Headmaster’s House, and together the buildings show how classrooms and teaching changed over more than two hundred years.

Today the museum is run as a registered charity with the help of volunteers. Visitors can sit in period classrooms, including a First World War classroom, try hands-on activities and handle objects. Behind the displays the museum looks after a collection of school objects. The site also has a play café and holds the status of an Accredited Museum and a Dementia Friends museum.

Highlights

• Last surviving purpose-built monitorial schoolroom, opened in 1837
• Period classrooms spanning more than 200 years
• First World War classroom
• Victorian Headmaster’s House
• Hands-on activities and a play café

Permanent exhibitions

• Monitorial schoolroom – The 1837 schoolroom designed for the monitorial system, the last purpose-built example of its kind.
• Period classrooms – Classrooms including a Victorian gallery classroom and a First World War classroom that show how school life changed over two centuries.
• Headmaster’s House – The historic house of the school’s headmaster, which can be seen on a video tour by visitors who cannot climb the steps.

Operated by

British Schools Museum (registered charity)

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Most of the museum is accessible by wheelchair. The Headmaster’s House and the Gallery Classroom are not, because of their historic design, and video tours of the Headmaster’s House and written information on both are available. There is a fully accessible toilet. Large-print panels are being updated, and staff and volunteers can accompany visitors during opening hours. The museum is a Dementia Friends museum and offers object handling.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Children over 5 take part in a craft activity included in their ticket, and there is a play café. A free baby and toddler dance class runs on Wednesdays, and seasonal family events are held. Baby changing is in the large accessible toilet and in the toilets at the top site.

Getting there & parking

Coaches cannot park but can drop off visitors outside the museum.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Coat check

The play café is open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 14:30, Saturday 10:00 to 15:30 and Sunday 10:00 to 14:00, and is closed on bank holidays; it is usually open when the museum is closed. Cream teas can be pre-ordered. Buggies can be left in the cloakroom at the lower site or the porch at the top site, at the owner’s risk.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit