Schools and groups

We support pupils learning with our interactive STEM pod experience, as well as workshops, shows, and school visits.

Arrival

Please be sure to arrive on time for your booking.

• Should you experience any delays or need help with directions on the day of your visit please inform a member of the Centre of the Cell staff on 020 7882 2562.
• This is particularly important as we often have one of our scientists booked as a STEM Ambassador for the STEM Pod sessions, and we can notify them if a session is due to start late.
• If you are more than 20 minutes late for a session and we have another booking scheduled for after yours, your session time may be shortened. If you are more than 40 minutes late it may not be possible to run your session.

Toilets are available at reception, down the corridor to the left of the reception desk.  Please ensure that students using the toilets are accompanied by an adult, and that those remaining in reception are also supervised.

Teachers should bring a list of all pupils present or, if this is unavailable, sign in all of their students on arrival. This list can be left with the Centre of the Cell staff.

On arrival, groups will be met in the building reception by Centre of the Cell Explainers. They will let you know what to expect of your visit, making sure that everyone is excited and eager to go! Fire evacuation procedures and other behavioural expectations will also be explained.

The group will then proceed to the cloakroom to drop off their coats and bags, and will then cross the bridge to either our STEM Pod, or Neuron Pod, depending on the booking. The STEM Pod is suspended above the laboratories, where visitors will be able to see research scientists at work as they enter the centre!

Visiting the shop and ending your visit

After the booked shows, groups are taken back to the cloakroom to retrieve their belongings. Our gift shop will be open at the end of the visit with a range of items available from 30p to £16.50.

The group will then be led back to the main entrance, where there will be an opportunity to ask any questions they may have following their visit.

Risk assessments and health & safety

The following sections contain information to help you conduct a risk assessment prior to your visit. Teachers and group leaders are welcome to visit the building prior to the trip in order complete a risk assessment. To organise this, please contact our bookings team on info@centreofthecell.org or 020 7882 2562.

Please note that human organs are on display during the exhibition, and that the exhibition contains bright lights that flash at low frequency.

Supervision/behaviour

• All groups will be accompanied by two Centre of the Cell staff, who are fully briefed in emergency procedures.
• Visitors between the ages of 12 and 16 should be accompanied by one responsible adult for every fifteen children.
• Visitors under the age of 12 should be accompanied by one responsible adult for every ten children.
• Accompanying adults are responsible at all times for the behaviour of the minors they accompany to ensure their Health and Safety.
• If the behaviour of anyone in your group disrupts the visit for others or puts themselves or others at risk this person may be asked to leave. Please brief your students about appropriate behaviour before your visit

First aid

• Trained first-aiders are on-call during all visits.
• Centre of the Cell is less than five minutes’ walk from the Accident & Emergency Department at The Royal London Hospital.
• All Health & Safety incidents are reported and recorded.

Fire and evacuation

Centre of the Cell staff are trained in our evacuation procedures; should it be necessary to evacuate please follow their instructions promptly and calmly.

Child protection policy

• All Centre of the Cell delivery staff are DBS checked.
• Centre of the Cell’s child protection policy is regularly reviewed and is available on request.

Class list

Teachers should bring a list of all pupils present or, if this is unavailable, sign in all of their students on arrival. This is a requirement of our Health & Safety Officers, who need to know how many people are in the building at any one time. This list can be left with the Centre of the Cell staff.

Lunch

If you have booked more than one session, the group may be able to have lunch in Neuron Pod, however this should be arranged with our bookings team prior to your visit (info@centreofthecell.org).

Please note that food and drink are not permitted in STEM Pod, and chewing gum is not permitted anywhere in the Blizard Institute or Centre of the Cell.

Valuables

All coats and bags will be deposited in the cloakroom for the duration of the visit and may be collected prior to entry to the shop at the end.  The cloakroom will be locked, but please ask your students not to bring unnecessary valuables. Unfortunately we cannot take responsibility for any losses that occur during the visit.