Find My Activities

At the moment you’re seeing all our itinerary suggestions for a school trip to St Ives; to refine what you see please click the relevant filters. To save your search download a pdf and keep it on your desktop as a reference.

Please note that all prices are for guidance only and are subject to change. If you’d like more detail on anything do get in touch with the relevant supplier or email us on hello@stayatcohort.co.uk.

Surf Lesson

Take to the water with the award winning St Ives Surf School for an exhilarating 2 hour surf lesson. All equipment is included including wet suits and students do not have to be strong swimmers as it’s rare that they’ll be in water deeper than waist height and never out of their depth.

Instructors are all DBS checked and experienced at working with schools and young people.

St Ives Surf School are AALA Licensed

£30+VAT per person

Geology Fieldwork – The Lizard & Kennack Sands

The Lizard (unique suite of oceanic rocks not normally seen on the land surface). The rocks at the Lizard are part of an ophiolite – a piece of oceanic crust that has been uplifted onto continental crust. When the rocks of the Lizard were formed around 400 million years ago, the area was completely submerged by water. The area of what is now Cornwall was at that time a divergent plate margin and new igneous rocks were being created as two oceanic plates moved apart at a spreading ridge. As the plates moved apart, molten rock rising up from the mantle filled the space created and cooled to form new oceanic floor.

Kennack Sands; cross cutting relationships; peridotite, serpentinite, gabbro, basalt and Kennack gneiss.

BOTH  ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

The Lizard / Kennack Sands are a 50 minute drive from St Ives by coach.

Free

Painting ‘En Plein Air’

Join artist educator extraordinaire, Greg Humphries, for a session painting out in the open air. Take in the wild Cornish cliffs, the golden sand beaches or the busy harbour using inks, gouache paint or acrylics.

Explore ideas and methods used by artists such as JMW Turner, Ben Nicholson, Peter Lanyon or Bryan Wynter.

Materials not included. 2 – 3 hours.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

Beach Clean with Beach Guardian

Beach Guardian, an award winning social enterprise, aims to engage, educate and empower against plastic pollution. They can organise an engaging session on the beach where the group will not only clean but learn what plastics to look for, why they are so dangerous, where they have come from and what they can do when they leave St Ives.

Suitable for all ages.

Free

Jo McIntosh – Textiles

Jo McIntosh is a Textile Artist and WEA (Workers Education Association) Tutor living and working in St Ives, Cornwall. She runs workshops and courses on a variety of textile and craft related subjects including feltmaking, fabric dyeing, printing without a press, papermaking, knitting, handstitching, and more.

Her workshops can be run for complete beginners or those with some knowledge of the subject and she is happy to answer any questions you may have and please feel free to contact her if the subject you are interested in does not appear above.

£90/half day or £160/full day + £5/person material costs + room hire charges if applicable

Town Walk with Tony Farrell

St Ives local Tony is a retired English teacher and has also worked as a Nautical Archaeologist at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, publishing research papers in leading Archaeological and Historical Journals.

His walk through St Ives covers the development of the town and its heritage, the importance of fishing, seafaring and mining as well as the growth of tourism and the significance of St.Ives as a centre for Modern Art. Discover St.Ives’ unique history through buildings and artifacts located in obscure places.

A great introduction to St Ives for students about to embark on a Human Geography study of the town.

Suitable for ages 12+. Maximum group size: 20.

£5/person. Teachers go free.

St Michael’s Mount

One of the most famous of Cornwall’s landmarks, St Michael’s Mount is situated in the village of Marazion – a 20 minute drive from St Ives. The mount is home to a small community, a stunning castle and gardens that would be the envy of a fairytale. The ‘castle on the rock’ dates back to 14th Century and is accessible by foot when the tide is out or by boat at other times.

Working with schools the learning programme at St Michael’s Mount is designed to engage children and young people in creative and collaborative experiences that bring the history of the island and its locality to life. Especially ideal for Cornish Schools where local history and culture is high priority on the curriculum.

This is an easy 1/2 day or full day out for your group – with tours available of the castle and gardens; or just explore on your own. Read more on their Schools & Learning page HERE.

Free for Cornish Schools OR (for out of county schools) Buy a National Trust Education Membership to access this site for free OR £7.50/student for visits to the castle.

Barbara Hepworth. Bronze, Marble, Stone: The Life and Loves of a Sculptor

A fabulous walking tour of St Ives focusing on Barbara Hepworth, one of the town’s most well-known artists who worked as a sculptor and was inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Throughout her life Hepworth gifted some of her sculptures to St Ives town, they were made from bronze, marble and stone. She preferred her work to be outside in the light where she said ‘it can expand and breathe’.

This tour looks at Hepworth’s sculptures and talks about her life and passion for living in St Ives. This activity is also available as an evening talk on site at Cohort.

Nicky herself lives and works in St Ives and her background is in Fine Art and Art History. She has spent many years studying and researching art and artists.

Duration: 90minutes. Maximum group size: 40.

£200/group. 5% discount for groups of less than 20 students.

Merlin Cinema

Pop over the road (literally) to our local cinema where they are happy to take advance, group bookings. You can even hire a whole cinema screen if you want to go to town. Merlin Cinemas are across Cornwall and very affordable. They show all the latest blockbusters as well as live screenings from the Royal Ballet, RSC and National Theatre.

See their website for more details.

£5-7 per person

Walk to (or from) Zennor

From Cohort head over to the far end of Porthmeor Beach, follow the SW Coast Path out of St Ives towards Lands End. Over the bowling green and Man’s Head rock formation and keep going. Keep the sea on your right and you can’t get lost; eventually you reach a stone marker pointing you away from the coast path, it’s then a half a mile inland to reach the hamlet of Zennor where you can get the bus back to St Ives.

It’s a challenging 6.5 mile hike with lots of up and down on a narrow (occasionally uneven) path but it is 100% worth it for the views. Allow 4 – 5 hours, more if you want to stop and take photos / picnic.

Wear suitable footwear (hiking boots or trail running shoes) and only attempt with older students (14 years+).

Free

Penlee House Gallery & Museum

Built in 1865 and set in the grounds of a sub-tropical garden in Penzance. Penlee House is home to many paintings by members of the Newlyn School. A programme of changing exhibitions celebrates the skill and craftsmanship of painting in west Cornwall in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They offer introductory talks for all school visits (free) and can organise workshops based on your themes and the National Curriculum. Penzance is a 30 minute bus / 20 minute coach ride from St Ives.

Free (small charge for workshops)

Evening Art Talks

Sit back and relax in the comfort of Cohort’s lounge area and let Nicky and her slideshow guide your students around St Ives and its fascinating, artistic history.

If you don’t have time for the walk around town or you’re looking for an evening activity you can choose to have the slideshow instead…or as well as! From either of the tours on offer you can opt for Walk Amongst Artistsor Barbara Hepworth. Bronze, Marble, Stone; The Life and Loves of a Sculptor as a talk.

If you prefer to focus on a specific artist, for example: Alfred Wallis, Terry Frost, Bryan Pearce, Wilhelmina Barns Graham, etc, please talk to Nicky and she will do her best to accommodate that focus.

Student participation is encouraged during the slideshow, what do they think about the artists in St Ives? And why this town?

Duration: 60minutes. No maximum group size.

£120/talk

Minack Theatre (visits)

The Minack is a unique open air theatre perched on the cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean. Built by one extraordinary woman, Minack is an amazing place to visit in a spectacular setting.

Combine a visit with the PK Porthcurno for an awesome day out.

Please note: You cannot take a coach up to the Minack Theatre (minibuses are fine). If you are in a coach you must organise parking with PK Porthcurno (£45) and walk from there (10 minutes up a steep hill); if you are visiting in the busy months (June / July) then you will likely have to be dropped off at the end of the lane and it’s a mile walk from there.

5-15yrs £5/person 16yrs+ £10/person

Drypoint Printmaking

Drypoint Engraving offers a perfect ‘wow factor’ experience for all kinds of mark makers, and provides an ideal opportunity for creatives to capture a first-hand response to landscape and the ever changing effects of light and weather conditions.

Using mobile workshop facilities, you will be working directly in the countryside preparing, making and proofing images. The mystery of not knowing quite how it will print until its rolled through the press helps to maintain a keen focus throughout the process. The images rarely disappoint as there’s always so much to be surprised by when the print is finally peeled from the plate. The crisp edge of the embossed print frames each image, making them a perfect art form to display in large groupings.

Oliver is used to hosting large groups in all kinds of weather conditions. Oftentimes the added influence of changeable weather conditions only adds to a more dynamic set of prints made.

Runs: 9.30am – 3.30pm. Group size: 18 – 35. Choose your location or pick from one of Oliver’s favourite spots. Timings and costings can be adjusted for smaller / larger groups.

This workshop is also available in the format of a ‘Fast Track Drypoint Printmaking’, a whistle-stop experience of this workshop. Group size: 15 – 28. Two workshops in one day.

Approx. £39/student, includes all materials and access to the mobile printing set up. £22/student for the Fast Track experience (half day)

PK Porthcurno (Museum of Global Communications)

Discover a museum experience that explores the amazing story of our interconnected world, and how a tranquil valley in Cornwall became the centre of worldwide communications.

The museum has a regular programme of curriculum-linked workshops for schools and groups, which combine hands-on activities with time to explore the museum.

Workshops can be tailored to meet your groups’ needs or specific learning outcomes. You can also extend your Porthcurno learning experience with pre-and post-visit activities.

£6/person for a workshop and visit. Staff go free.

Newlyn Art Gallery & Exchange

Newlyn Art Gallery exists because of a long history of art making in West Cornwall; now Newlyn Art Gallery & The Exchange offers a wide and varied exhibition programme across the two sites. Groups are welcome to organise self-led visits and a member of the learning team will meet the group on arrival and provide them with an introduction to the gallery and exhibition.

Free for U18s if booked as a group in advance

Melodies of Cornwall

Join singer songwriter Nicole Tesseyman for a fabulous musical session on site at Cohort.

Nicole will sing and play some of her own, St Ives/Cornwall-inspired songs and sea shantys explaining the meaning behind them and how she came to write them. She will then teach the group a couple of Cornish songs to sing together; finally leading the group to write their own Sea Shanty.

This will encourage them to reflect on what they have learned about St Ives, build new creative skills, gain in confidence and – more importantly – have fun with music.

Great for all ages and a perfect take away from any trip to St Ives. Sessions last between 90 – 120 minutes depending on the size of the group.

£150 for groups of 30 students or less; £180 for groups of 31 students or more (staff excluded)

Foxes Fair

3-piece traditional folk band available to hire for an evening’s entertainment at Cohort. Suitable for all ages.

Inspired by the deep well of traditional folk music, tailoring songs and melodies to fit their own unique musical style, Foxes Fair’s playful string arrangements provide a delightful backdrop to their natural and effortless harmonies. Their sound as timeless as their topics, they tell stories of death, nature and love.

Foxes Fair’s live performances are permeated by a warmth and comradery rarely seen to this extent in musical groups, friendship clearly binding these ladies as much as the love for the music they make.

Please note that bands can only be booked if the group has exclusive use of Cohort.

£200 (2 x 45 minute sets or equivalent)

Nick Baker – Geography & Geology

Nick taught geology and geography at a senior (11-18) independent school in Cornwall where he was Director of Public Examinations and responsible for the yearly organisation of the field studies programme in both subject areas.

He has a first degree (B.Sc.) in both subjects and a PGCE. He also holds an M.A. in geology education and has carried out PhD research in Earth Science Education. He is a published author of two books and is currently working on the publication of a third.

Nick would be delighted to lead any group fieldwork day in the area, assisting you in choosing the best sites, giving practical advice and working with you to ensure that learning outcomes are achieved.

£300/day

Country Skittles

Set in beautiful rural surroundings a couple of miles out of Hayle (15 minutes by coach / minibus from St Ives) you can spend the evening at this unique venue where students can play a couple of games of old-fashioned 9-pin skittles and have a great meal.

It’s a brilliant way to spend the evening and a real break.

Approx £15/person for a meal + 2 games of skittles

Ben Church – Geology

A Professional Geologist with 26 years of teaching experience, Ben Church will meet you at Cohort and take you on a memorable field trip investigating the geology of Cornwall. Students will consider geological events that happened hundreds of millions of years ago and events that happened on the day of the field trip.

Students will also look at geology on a global scale and an atomic scale. By the end of the day students will have a broad understanding of the geological history of Cornwall and how geology influences the Cornish landscape. Students will also have an understanding of the geological resources that are such an important part of Cornish heritage: if you can’t grow it – you have to dig it up!

Standard day is 9am – 3pm (6 hours). Max group size: 25 students + staff.

£250/day per group

Dyeing Fabric with Indigo

Jo McIntosh is a Textile Artist and Workers Education Tutor living and working in St Ives. The work she produces includes hand-woven, knitted, felt items, jewellery and much more.

Jo runs art and crafts workshops on a variety of topics including knitting, crochet, weaving, feltmaking, papier-mâché and fabric dyeing.

During this workshop you will learn how to set up and use an Indigo vat to dye fabric as well as some tie dye techniques to create patterns onto the fabric.

Maximum group size: 15.

£90/half day or £160/full day + £5/person material costs + room hire charges if applicable

St Ives Museum

Eight rooms over two floors tell the fascinating history of St Ives’ heritage. Explore art, blacksmith tools, boat building, photographs and wartime memorabilia. Alongside all this the original fish curing cellar can still be seen.

The museum is small so not suitable for large groups unless pre-arranged. It’s open Easter – end of October, Monday – Saturday.

£2-3 per person

Congition Learning STEM Workshops

Cognition Learning brings hands-on problem based STEM learning challenges to your pupils across KS2 and KS3. With links to topics and your curriculum planned into the sessions children can learn contextually whilst solving problems, having fun and learning with their peers. 

Cognition Learning use LEGO Education robotics and block coding to build and design robots that are up to any challenge. With links to Science, D&T, Maths, Geography and even History and Literature they create the scenario and your pupils design the solution. 

Cognition Learning will conduct the workshop on site at Cohort or in an external workshop space.

Maximum number of students: 36. Duration: half a day.

£250-300/workshop including materials

Newlyn Art Gallery Sketch Tour

These 90-minute sessions are led by a member of the Learning and Participation team. After a brief introduction to the exhibition, the group will be encouraged to discuss thoughts and opinions on the work and then to respond creatively.

Students must bring their own sketch books, all other materials are provided.

£8 per person

Lantern Ghost Story Walk

As an eerie darkness falls over St Ives, come with the acclaimed storyteller, Shanty Baba, as he lights his hurricane lantern, to show you “the darker side of St Ives”. A great ghost walk for all ages and a fab way to spend an evening.

75 minutes. May start as late as 9.30pm in the summer. Private bookings available.

£6 per person (max charge £200), staff go free

Coasteering

Join award winning St Ives Surf School for a 1.5-2 hour coasteering adventure. Coasteering is an adrenaline filled combination of traversing rocks, floating through gullies, sea swimming, exploring caves and negotiating jumps.

All this takes place in a safe and fun environment under the guidance of highly trained and qualified professionals, all of which are DBS checked.

All equipment provided.

St Ives Surf School are AALA Licensed

£30+VAT per person

Tremenheere Sculpture Gardens

In a beautiful sheltered valley, the woods, stream and dramatic vistas of Tremenheere provide a perfect setting for large-scale exotic and sub-tropical planting.

Interwoven with this there is also an evolving programme of contemporary artwork, internationally renowned artists such as James Turrell, David Nash and Richard Long have interacted with the setting to create site-specific permanent work that harmonises with the landscape.

Tremenheere is a 20 minute drive from St Ives and you will need transport to access the site.

£6/student (£4/student <15). £8.50/staff.

SK8 St Ives

Join the fabulous SK8PZ for a roller skating session at the Island Centre in St Ives. SK8PZ is a roller skating CIC who provide fun and fitness on skates for ages 5 and up.

A 90 minute session will start off with safety information and fundamental techniques, progressing on to skills and tricks which are then reinforced through fun and games. There’s always time for a bit of disco at the end too!

Roller skating has been shown to improve anxiety and loneliness through a pressure-free social activity. Skating facilitates neuroplasticity and reduces stress, which helps pupils overcome adversity and maintain a positive mindset. In short, it’s a great way to spend an evening in St Ives. The Island Centre is a 10 minute walk from Cohort.

SK8PZ has all the relevant risk asessments, safeguarding, DBS checks and insurance in place. Maximum group size 30-35 but larger groups can be accommodated by staggering sessions.

£160/90 minute session (allow 2 hours). All skates included.

Atmospheric Mixed Media Painting

Pioneering abstract painter Sandra Blow often used tea, cement, sawdust and burlap to create coarse textures and an earthy palette to her paintings.

Join artist educator Rowena Tarplee who will lead you through experimenting with mixed media and colour to create your own textured and dynamic landscape or abstract painting inspired by your trip to St.Ives. 

Key skills: texture, relief, abstract, composition, colour, light, painting & colour mixing.

Suitable for all ages. All materials provided. Duration: 2 hours. Download the details of this workshop HERE.

£15/student + room hire if applicable

Dawn to Dusk Photography Workshop

Professional photographer Chris Webber will pick students up from the hostel for a photography workshop they are unlikely to forget.

During the workshop students will learn about aperture, shutter speed and ISO and how to achieve it in manual mode and image composition. By the end of workshop students will be more confident using their cameras manually as well as having gained a greater insight into balancing light within their camera.

3 – 4 hours.

£180/group <16 students

David Atherfold – Geography

David’s knowledge of the local area will help to bring Geography alive for visiting students.

Under his expert guidance, students will explore Cornwall’s stunning land and seascapes as well as understand some of the challenges that the County faces. David will combine his passion for the outdoors with his knowledge of Cornwall’s unique human and physical Geography, enabling students to return to the classroom and exam hall with a renewed sense of perspective and enthusiasm.

Standard day is 9am – 3pm (6 hours). Max group size: 25 students + staff.

£180/day per group

Beach Sculpture Workshop

Join artist educator extraordinaire, Greg Humphries, on the beach for a fun, imaginative experience that will use sand as a sculpting material.

Tapping into our love of building sandcastles, Greg starts by demonstrating some sand sculpting techniques then sets a series of challenges that aim to creatively connect the group.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

Bodmin Jail

Discover the darker side of Cornwall’s history at Bodmin Jail. Experience the Dark Walk where the stories of Bodmin Jail will come alive in this immersive experience.

Educational group tours can be tailored to your learning outcomes or subject focus so speak to the education department in advance. It’s a great option for on the way down to us or on the way home as it’s around 1 hour from St Ives by coach.

Allow 2 – 3 hours for a visit (depending on the size of the group).

£6.60/student and staff go free

Great Flat Lode

One of the world’s best conserved mining landscapes. The mines here closed around 1920. Since then the area has remained relatively undeveloped and it now contains some of Cornwall’s finest remains of engine houses, tin dressing floors and other mining structures.

The trail runs from 2 – 7 miles and is a 25 minute drive from St Ives.

Allow at least half a day for exploring, analysis or sketching.

Free

Land’s End

Visit the most westerly point in the UK and see the iconic signpost – a legendary Cornish icon.

The Land’s End Peninsula was formed around 270 million years ago producing magnificent cliffs which are of national significance.

For a great (and easy) walk park at Sennen Cove (a beautiful fishing village in its own right) and walk the mile to Land’s End to appreciate the coastal scenery in all its glory.

Free

Suez Recycling Centre

Cornwall Energy Recovery bring an innovative solution to the management of Cornwall’s waste and recycling. They boost recycling, composting and re-use and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill. Visitor centres at St Austell and Bodmin (both an hour’s drive from St Ives) offer students a unique insight into waste management strategies, offering opportunities to investigate sustainability, energy and resource management topics.

Great for students of all ages as visits can be customised to meet learning outcomes and linked to KS3 and GCSE topics.

Free

Oliver West

Oliver has been offering Printmaking workshops in Cornwall since 1995. His interest in making etchings directly in the landscape drew him into unique methods of making prints without having to leave his favourite environment, the great outdoors! With the use of his mobile printmaking studio Oliver has worked with numerous school groups over the years, enabling students of all ages to experience the thrill of proofing prints in situ. He loves to encourage a more intuitive response to landscape, which promotes a rich experience of being in this beautiful part of the world.

Visit his websites HERE (printmaking) and HERE (monoprinting)

As a visual thinking specialist, Oliver can also offer aspects of the Footnotes Visual Program as a further way of enabling all kinds of thinking styles to respond to environments in their own unique way.

£20-39/student depending on activity; see individual listings for details

Assemblage Workshop in the style of Margaret Mellis

Scottish artist Margaret Mellis was a pivotal figure in Modern British Art and was one of the first to settle in St.Ives.  She created abstract constructions, paintings, collages and later driftwood assemblages exploring colour, form and structure.

In this workshop, students are supplied with a wide variety of found objects including flotsam, jetsam and driftwood. Led by artist educator and practitioner, Rowena Tarplee, they will then experiment with creating their own interesting abstract compositions in the style of Mellis, inspired by the harbour and with links to the environment.

Students make a photographic record of their assemblages to print at a later date for their sketchbooks. Students will then have the opportunity to explore mixed media paper collage in the style of Mellis’ paper and card constructs. 

Time: 2 hrs. All materials are supplied. Download details of this workshop HERE.

£10/student (minimum cost of workshop £190)

Jackson Foundation Gallery

The Jackson Foundation is a unique, ambitious and award-winning art-space celebrating and championing arts and the natural world.

The gallery welcomes school visits as well as offering tailored workshops in partnership with their experienced education officer. They centre around three key themes – art, environmental science and the written word. These cross-curricular sessions link the work of world-renowned contemporary artist Kurt Jackson with an array of objectives.

Workshops are 2 hours with a max capacity of 30 students.

£150/2 hour session

Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden

Barbara Hepworth lived and worked in Trewyn studios – now the Barbara Hepworth Museum – from 1949 until her death in 1975. Following her wish to establish her home and studio as a museum of her work, Trewyn Studio and much of the artist’s work remaining there was given to the nation and placed in the care of the Tate Gallery in 1980.

Visit this amazingly peaceful place and wonder at the art still in the same position as the artist herself placed them in.

Free for U18s if booked as a group in advance

Physical Geography & Geology – Carn Brea

Carn Brea, near Redruth is perfect for studying tor formation; granite and microgranite; dyke intrusions; extent of granite outcrop as part of the S.W. Cornubian batholith. BOTH ‘A’ Level and GCSE geography (weathering) AND geology.

This site offers the opportunity for an investigation based on a research question or issue defined and developed by the student and approved by the school to address aims, questions and/or hypotheses relating to the specification.

A study at Carn Brea will incorporate the observation and recording of field data and/or evidence from field investigations that is of good quality and relevant to the topic under investigation as required by the various exam boards.

Carn Brea is 20 minutes from St Ives by coach.

Free

Greg Humphries – Art

Greg Humphries is an award winning environmental artist with education at the core of his practice.

Working within the sector for over 15 years for institutions such as Tate, Falmouth University and Burton Art Gallery he focusses his work with GCSE and A level groups on key Assessment Objectives within both syllabuses.

He is happy to discuss your groups requirements and co-create an unforgettable experience and in the meantime feel free to visit www.greghumphriesart.co.uk for previous work or visit Instagram @greghumphriesart.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

Nicky Ferguson – Art Tours

Nicky lives and works in St Ives and her background is in Fine Art and Art History. She has spent many years studying and researching art and artists and now runs her own company in St Ives offering art walking tours to groups and independent tourists.

Whilst living in St Ives Nicky has focused on looking at the artists who came to St Ives during the 20th century and developed the modernist movement, those artists include Barbara Hepworth, Patrick Heron, Peter Lanyon, Terry Frost, Wilhelmina Barns Graham and Ben Nicholson to name a few. Not forgetting Alfred Wallis who was discovered in St Ives and was an inspiration to many artists.

Nicky not only thinks about the artists from the past but also those who live and work here in St Ives today making the town an exciting and creative place to be.

Cornwall: A Geologist’s Perspective

Cornwall: A Geologist’s Perspective will send you on a virtual journey through Cornwall’s geological past. Venture through Cornwall’s story of plate tectonics, and how the rocks beneath our feet can tell us about a time when Cornwall was at the bottom of an ocean and then centre of a giant mountain range.

Understand how the geological evolution over the last 400 million years has shaped the landscape around us today, influencing modern industries that define the county’s history, present day, and future.

Dr. Sam Hughes is a lecturer at Camborne School of Mines (University of Exeter) and a St Ives local; his fascinating and engaging talk will last 1 – 2 hours including a Q&A session and takes place at Cohort.

A must-do evening activity for all geographers and budding geologists.

£120/talk

In the Footsteps of the Ancestors

Was Cornwall the centre of a technological revolution that transformed human history?

West Cornwall has a greater density of prehistoric sites than anywhere in Britain except the Stonehenge area. Join experienced guide, Anthony Power (30 years in museum and outdoor education) for a tour of some of the most important monuments, as we look for clues to the question of why an apparent backwater was actually a key player in the human story.

2 – 3 hours. Suitable for 14 years+

£5/student (minimum £150)

Tony Farrell – History & Archaeology

Tony is a St.Ives man whose family has been involved for generations in fishing, seafaring and mining.  He went to sea for a time after leaving school and before going to University. He has a BA Honours degree in English and in Archaeology and did post-graduate research in Archaeology at The Queen’s University of Belfast.

Tony has taught, and lectured, in Further and Higher Education, and for nearly 20 years he was the Head of English at St.Ives School.  He has also worked as a Nautical Archaeologist at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. 

Tony has published research papers in leading Archaeological and Historical Journals and has published a poetry textbook. He has an intimate knowledge of St.Ives and the moors of West Penwith.

Various depending on activity

Ancient monuments of West Penwith

St Ives local Tony is a retired English teacher and has also worked as a Nautical Archaeologist at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, publishing research papers in leading Archaeological and Historical Journals.

The Penwith moors contain fine examples of Megalithic chamber tombs (locally known as Quoits), stone circles, entrance graves, cliff castles and prehistoric villages. Many sites are in remote locations. Walks and talks can be organized to meet the curriculum needs and interests of individual groups.

Suitable for ages 12+. Maximum group size: 20. Transport required.

£20/student. Teachers go free.

Geevor Tin Mine

Situated on the stunning Cornish coastline around Pendeen, Geevor Tin Mine gives your students the opportunity to visit a real mine and learn what life was like for a Cornish Miner.

A typical day includes hand-drilling and rock-crushing sessions, a tour of the processing mill, an underground tour of the mine, panning for minerals – as well as your selection from one of their workshops:

The KS2 Hard Rock Challenge workshop focuses on the properties of rocks and their formation as metamorphic, sedimentary or igneous. This workshop explores how this affected the mining and separation processes used at Geevor Tin Mine.

The KS2 It’s a Hard Rock Life is a workshop that explores the lives of Cornish miners and Bal Maids. It provides a great living local history study and an in depth exploration of Cornwall and its culture that miners took with them throughout the world. These worldly travels led to the now famous expression ‘if there is a hole anywhere on Earth, you’re sure to find a Cornishman at the bottom of it.’

£5.85/student. Staff go free.

Geology Fieldwork – Cligga Head

The small mass of granite known as Cligga Head, forming a bold promontory between St. Agnes and Perranporth on the northern coast of Western Cornwall, has long been known, not only to the geologists of that county, but also to others from farther afield.

At Cligga Head, near Perranporth, greisens are only a few centimetres thick, bordering narrow cassiterite veins. The greisen minerals are associated with chlorite and tourmaline.

It’s an ideal site to study greisened (late stage alteration) granite; tourmaline dyke; contact metamorphism.

‘A’ Level.

Cligga Head is a 25 minute drive from St Ives by coach.

Free

Environs of St Ives Walk

St Ives local Tony is a retired English teacher and has also worked as a Nautical Archaeologist at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, publishing research papers in leading Archaeological and Historical Journals.

This walk explores the countryside on the outskirts of St.Ives, visiting Knill’s Monument and examining evidence of opencast tin mining from the Medieval period and taking the Pilgrims’ trail, now known as St.Michael’s Way. Halsetown village will be visited and its interesting origins explained. Includes part of the coastal footpath back to St.Ives.

Suitable for ages 12+. Maximum group size: 20.

£8/person. Teachers go free.

Annabel Wilkes

Annabel is a practising printmaker and arts educator living and working in St Ives. She delivers art workshops for all ages and abilities at her studio in Newmill, near Zennor in Cornwall. She is also a learning facilitator at Tate St Ives and works as a tutor at St Ives School of Painting and Cornwall School of Art in Truro.

Annabel’s workshops are about using nature as a resource and having fun exploring printmaking as a medium. Annabel’s ethos is also about using art as a therapy and her intention is to enable children and adults to build confidence in themselves as creatives.

Annabel’s own work focuses on the use natural and refound materials collected from coastal walks and subtropical gardens in and around Cornwall. She prints from selected flora onto a variety of printmaking papers, sometimes mixing printmaking with alternative photographic processes. Annabel exhibits her work at the Penwith Gallery in St Ives and regularly takes part in Open Studios at her studio in Newmill.

See her website HERE and her Instagram page HERE.

Goonhilly Earth Station

The UKs space communication gateway and a recognised centre of excellence in Communications Engineering, Teleport Services, R&D, Manufacturing, Training, Outreach and Education.

They are a huge supporter of STE(A)M (Science, Tech, Engineering (Arts) & Maths) and offer fantastic opportunities for schools to engage with workshops, tours of the site, lectures and project work.

Goonhilly is a 30 minute drive from St Ives.

From £4.80 per person (minimum 15 students)

Geology Fieldwork – Rinsey Cove

The granite here forms the headlands either side of Rinsey Cove and Mylor Slate formation dips down into the top of the granite forming a roof pendant. The softer slate has been eroded away to form the cove and the contacts with the granite are exposed on either side of the sandy beach.

The dykes and sills emanating from the granite into the slate show how granite is emplaced into the country rock by the process of stoping. The different angles of contact exposed on the wave-cut platforms provide a great introduction to the principles of geological mapping.

An ideal site for mapping a granite contact at sides and roof; contact metamorphism with indicator mineralisation and dyke intrusions.

BOTH  ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

Free

Paper or Fabric Collage

Jo McIntosh is a Textile Artist and Workers Education Tutor living and working in St Ives. The work she produces includes hand-woven, knitted, felt items, jewellery and much more.

Jo runs art and crafts workshops on a variety of topics including knitting, crochet, weaving, feltmaking, papier-mâché and fabric dyeing.

During this workshop you will learn how to create a collage from an image (from a painting or photograph or may be inspired by the work of a St Ives artist). The collage could be made using paper from magazines or using fabric scraps and some simple handstitching.

Maximum group size: 15.

£90/half day or £160/full day + £5/person material costs + room hire charges if applicable

Geology Fieldwork – Godrevy

An ideal site to compare sedimentary environments; raised beach / present beach / sand dune / Red river.

Here you can see geological exposures from the Devonian to the Quaternary.

BOTH  ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

Godrevy is 20 minutes from St Ives by coach.

Free

Cyanotype Natural Forms workshop

Students will experience an exciting morning or afternoon discovering the magic of cyanotype printing using the sun or a lightbox to expose natural materials onto pre pared photographic paper.

Annabel prepares a light sensitive paper using a solution and guides students through the process to develop beautiful blue images onto the paper. She will teach students about this traditional method of photography and how to experiment further with exciting alternative techniques. Each student will create around 5 prints as well as a small illustrated booklet for their school portfolio.

Groups of up to 15 (maximum). Workshop lasts 2 hours. Recommended for students aged 14+. Teachers need to be present with students.

£15/student includes all materials

Granite Intrusions

West Cornwall is a fascinating area of British geology on account of its granite batholith; part of the Cornubian Batholith which forms much of the peninsula of SW England.

Granite intrustions at Land’s End and Carn Brea provide unique opportunities for geologists to study horizontal and vertical jointing.

Identify the different types of rocks and formations and practice fieldwork skills in a unique envrionment.

Free

Big Beach Day

Spend the day with St Ives Surf School learning about the RNLI, ocean safety and participating in water sports.

The day includes an RNLI safety talk, volleyball, rounders, body-boarding, wet suits, surf lesson, deckchairs, windbreaks and a VIP area on the beach.

Runs from 10am – 4pm with a break for lunch.

St Ives Surf School are AALA Licensed.

£55+VAT per person

Nick Baker – Talks & Seminars

Experienced geography / geology tutor and published author Nick Baker offers a number of different talks and seminars which can be conducted on site at Cohort. Each talk is 40 – 60 minutes and is followed by a Q&A, discussion & guided seminar.

A Rural Legacy Lost (1 hour)

The story of a largely forgotten culture, lifestyle and dialect associated with net fishing for salmon at the village of Stoke Gabriel on the River Dart in Devon. When all fishing licences were eventually bought out with climate change threatening sustainability, this impacted the ingrained social, economic and cultural history of the settlement illustrating how global changes can be felt at a local level.

The story of the Providence mines of Carbis Bay, St. Ives (45 – 60 minutes)

Surface evidence of these mines is now virtually non-existent, smothered under a carpet of modern development. Dealt with chronologically, with an underpinning geological rationale for its existence, it harnesses the rapidly fluctuating financial and human fortunes of this enterprise through optimism, trial, tragedy and ultimate abandonment.

Carbis Bay: Then and Now (30 – 40 minutes)

This talk looks at the rapidly expanding impact of tourism on Carbis Bay and how it has changed in response.

£100 / talk

Paradise Park

At the fabulous Paradise Park you can discover 130 species of birds, including Humboldt’s penguins, stunning macaws, toucans and eagles PLUS beautiful red pandas, rare red squirrels, cute otters, tiny harvest mice, miniature donkeys and a variety of farm animals.

Just a 10 minute drive or 20 minute bus ride from Cohort you can immerse your class in this fabulous site which is also home of the World Parrot Trust.

Workshops are also available. Lasting 30-45 minutes, they are linked to National Curriculum objectives and make full use of the wonderful range of wildlife at the Park.

Visits to the park can include time in their massive Soft Play area, ideal for burning off the last of the day’s energy or a haven after a wet weather visit.

Prices below are valid for pre-booked groups of 20+ in the school term and assume a ratio of no more than 1 adult to 5 children.

INDIVIDUALS: £9.15/child (including soft play). Staff go free. WORKSHOP: £30/workshop (max. 33 children)

St Ives RNLI Lifeboat Station

Visit the St Ives RNLI Lifeboat station, just a few minutes walk from Cohort. Learn about the bravery and dedication of the RNLI, see the amazing lifeboat up close and learn about water safety as part of the RNLI’s mission to prevent their services being needed.

Their website is packed full of resources to take your learning back into the classroom or give your pupils a grounding before the visit.

The visit is free but we do encourage schools to think about bringing a donation along donating to the RNLI during the visit.

Free

Bosavern Community Farm

A visit to this unique farm is a special, life-enhancing experience where the importance of sustainability, caring for bees, growing food without chemicals, respect for the land, (including tree and soil care) and for Nature in general, is brought to life.

Spend the day learning about where our food comes from; how they grow seasonal vegetables, herbs and salads on organic principles and raise happy, free-range chickens on GM-free food. The beehives house native Cornish Black Bees and the Community Bee Garden houses an Observation Hive where their own Beekeeper and bee hosts explain the importance of bees as pollinators. They have a Community Woodland, wildflower meadows, a Farm Trail and much more.

A day is typically 9.30 – 3.30pm. Suitable for groups of up to 32 + staff and activities / talks can be adapted for all ages. Shorter visits by special arrangement.

From £28 + VAT/student inc, lunch & all refreshments

Bodyboarding (hire)

Hire body boards (and wet suits if you need them) from St Ives Surf School for up to 2 hours and have a great time in the water.

Provided students stay within the allotted area for bodyboarding then they will be well looked after by RNLI lifeguards.

St Ives Surf School are AALA Licensed

£10/2 hours + £10/2 hours for wet suit hire. Discounts available for educational groups.

Cornish Folklore Story Walk

Enchanting stories from an enchanted land full of magic, myth and mystery. Tales of witches, spriggans, giants, piskies, seals and mermaids. Join storyteller Shanty for a story walk around St Ives covering all aspects of Cornish Folklore.

75 minutes.

£6 per person (max charge £200), staff go free

Expressive Clay Mask

Learn how to sculpt your own Expressive Clay Mask using air drying clay. Understand facial proportions, modelling techniques and surface decoration.

Rowena Tarplee is an experienced secondary Art teacher and Art practitioner and this workshop can be adapted to suit individual interests, projects and themes such as Expressionism, Multi-Cultural Art, Identify and Portraits.

Suitable for all ages. All materials provided. Duration: 3 hours. Download the details of this workshop HERE.

£15/student + room hire if applicable

De Chirico & the Metaphysical Dreamscape

A perfect evening activity at Cohort for art students.

Come and explore the hugely influential paintings of Giorgio de Chirico, the grandfather of Surrealism, in this quirky animated arts documentary (55 minutes), by local St Ives animator, Shanty Baba.

Paintings full of deserted streets, shadows, passing trains and enigmas yet abounding with meaning.

Shanty will then lead a discussion afterwards on some of the issues raised, such as influences, plagiarism and fakes.

£60 for Film & Discussion

St Ives Society of Artists

Established in 1927 the St Ives Society of Artists’ exhibition programme features work chosen by guest curators as well as guest exhibitions offering a diverse mix of contemporary visual art.

Many of their exhibiting artists and members are workshop leaders and they offer a great variety of art workshops for schools and students of all ages and abilities. Printmaking to craft and fine art to figurative.

£10 - 20 per student

Stand Up Paddleboarding

Join award winning St Ives Surf School for a 90 minute SUP lesson. Students will be taught basic coastal awareness and safety skills as well as various paddling techniques and balance tips. You will start out prone paddling, swiftly progressing onto your knees, before finding your feet and gliding through the water.

All instructors are DBS checked and used to working with schools and young people. All relevant instruction and equipment provided.

St Ives Surf School are AALA Licensed

£30+VAT per person

It’s a Hard Rock Life – Talk

Join Cornishman Clint Hosking and friends to gain a colourful overview of Cornish mining culture and history and why it is important enough to have received World Heritage status.

Clint will bring rock samples, photographs, tools, mining equipment, clothing, etc which form part of Geevor’s handling collection. Pupils can explore the artefacts for themselves so it is a very hands on interactive session.

This engaging talk can be conducted on site at Geevor Tin Mine or at Cohort and can be adapted for any age group or curriculum focus. It can take place during the day or evening and is highly recommended for all groups looking to understand a little more about Cornish culture.

Duration: 1 hour. Maximum group size: 60.

£65/session

Du Glas

Du Glas, Cornish for ‘black’ and ‘blue’ offer their own brand of acoustic folk combining influences from Americana and country rock. Born out of the vibrant Cornish music scene their sound is inventive and energetic and you can’t help bop around in your seat or get up and dance.

They will deliver an awesome 2 hour set (including an interval) for the group and it’s a great way to spend an evening. If the weather is good they’ll perform outside in the courtyard otherwise it will be up in the lounge – Wesley Hall.

A fab evening’s entertainment. Only suitable for those groups with exclusive use of the hostel.

£200 for a 2 hour set with interval

Botanical Monoprint workshop

Students will be taught about how to print surface textures of natural materials such as plants/flowers and wallpapers to create beautiful work to go towards school projects. 

Working with artist educator Annabel Wilkes, they will have the opportunity to learn about different colour ways related to Cornwall, compositions and how to layer inks to make beautiful prints. Students will take away around 6 unique prints of their own.

Groups of up to 15 (maximum). Workshop lasts 2 hours. Recommended for students aged 14+. Teachers need to be present with students.

£15/student includes all materials

Walk to (or from) Lelant Saltings

Leave the hostel and head to Porthminster Beach. From the far end of the beach outside the restaurant pick up the SW Coast Path towards Lelant / Hayle. Follow it through Carbis Bay, over the dunes at Porthkidney Sands (dipping down the beach if you like) and on to St Uny Church where you can walk 1km of super quiet road / path to Lelant Saltings station.

Pick up the train to come back to St Ives (£1-2).

Allow 90 minutes with good walkers and no stopping or 3 hours for slower walkers with lots of stops.

Free

Sketch St Ives (self-led)

You’d be hard pushed to find a setting as picturesque as St Ives. From narrow, cobbled streets to breathtakingly beautiful seascapes. Whether your discipline is fine art, sculpture, graphic design or photography a good sketching session is a fantastic way to get to know St Ives and build foundation art skills.

If you don’t know the town and you’d like some help we can point out some great places to base your students which are both safe and offer phenomenal views.

Free

St Ives School of Painting

Established in 1938 the St Ives School of Painting is situated in one of the most stunning locations in the world. The school offers inspiring workshops from their roster of working artists. They cover a wide variety of disciplines from Acrylic to Drawing and Mixed Media to Oils.

For smaller groups (<15/18) this is a unique 1/2 or 1 day activity for your most promising art students.

£25 - 40 per person

United Downs Geothermal Power Project

The UDDGP project is the first geothermal power plant in the UK. The aim of the project is to produce power and heat from the hot granite rocks beneath Cornwall at the United Downs Industrial Site near Redruth. Two deep, directional wells have successfully been drilled; the production well to a depth of 5275m and the injection well to 2393m. Both wells have intersected the target Porthtowan Fault Zone located approximately 800m to the west of the site.

From Spring / Summer 2022 United Downs offer educational trips the opportunity to see the site first hand with tours lasting from 1 – 2 hours, depending on the age of the students.

Free

The Core

An amazing space at the St Ives Community Orchard at the top of town.

Ideal for workshops, mindfulness or use it as a space to review your day with your students. Surrounded by the peace of the St Ives Community Orchard The Core is available for schools to hire or explore mindfulness workshops, yoga workshops or anything to do with nature.

Just a 15 minute walk from Cohort, The Core gives you the opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle and truly review your time in St Ives. Max size: 60

£40/hour

A Walk Amongst Artists

A fantastic way to get your bearings when you arrive in St Ives: Take a walk around town with Nicky who will talk about St Ives as a community for artists from the early 1900’s through to the modernists including Barbara Hepworth, Terry Frost, Alfred Wallis, Patrick Heron and many more.

Visiting galleries along the way Nicky will talk about the artists who live and work in St Ives today keeping the town alive as a creative hub for artists and visitors alike. This activity is also available as an evening talk on site at Cohort.

Nicky lives and works in St Ives and her background is in Fine Art and Art History. She has spent many years studying and researching art and artists.

Duration: 90minutes. Max group size: 40.

£200/group. 5% discount for groups of less than 20 students.

Barbara Hepworth Soap Sculpture

Join artist educator Rowena Tarplee for a workshop exploring scale, dimension form, space, light, perspective, surface and texture based on the work of Barbara Hepworth.

Make preliminary sketches in charcoal and pastel, then use carving techniques to sculpt your own abstract sculpture.

Suitable for all ages. All materials provided.

Maximum students: 16 – 20, depending on age range. Duration 2 hours.

£170/workshop plus room hire if applicable

Photography Walking Tour

Professional photographer Chris Webber will take you on an interactive photography tour of St Ives. Not only will you get the opportunity to learn more about St Ives and hidden secret places but Chris will also instruct you how to get the best out of your camera; whether you are using a Smart Phone or DLSR you’re guaranteed to come away with some great shots.

2 – 3 hours.

£180/tour <20 students

Tintagel Castle

Break up your journey to or from St Ives and immerse yourself in history, myths and stunning scenery at Tintagel Castle (approx. hour from St Ives). Inextricably linked with the legend of King Arthur this dramatic coastline and castle needs to be seen to be believed.

Education is one of English Heritage’s core values and school groups are well supported whether visiting on a self-led basis or booking onto a workshop or tour.

Free for educational groups who book in advance

The Leach Pottery

The Leach Pottery Schools programme is based on Bernard Leach’s belief that the most impactful and meaningful way to teach children about pottery is to engage them with the natural roots of the process. He writes, “They enjoy finding and digging their own clay, building their own kilns and making their own colours and glazes potters used to do before the machine age”.

The Leach Pottery offer a collection of creative workshops and tours for school groups for all ages (KS1 – KS5 and beyond) and abilities. Students discover the story of how the Leach Pottery revitalised the tradition of handmade pottery and, taking inspiration from the ceramics made by the Leach Pottery, will make their pottery as they learn about the journey clay makes from ground to kiln.

Visit their website for a comprehensive list of workshops and teacher resources.

Please note: Across 2024 the Leach Pottery will undergo capital development works to improve and expand our facilities and learning studios. At times it may not be possible to welcome groups onsite but the Learning & Participation programme will continue to offer workshops at other locations. Please get in touch to find out more.

St Ives Art Exploration Day

Explore creativity with artist educator, Greg Humphries.

Let Greg take you on an immersive art journey through St Ives for the day. Pick two workshops from everything he offers (excl. Paints & Pigments) and he will weave them together with a mini workshop incorporating your preferred theme or focus.

Ideal for groups looking for an immersive day in St Ives and those looking to take full advantage of Greg’s incredible knowledge, enthusiasm and practices.

Group size max: 25 students (if including Tate and/or Hepworth as limits are set by the sites). Larger groups can be accommodated by splitting into smaller groups and swapping them throughout the day. Ideal for GCSE and A level groups but can be adapted for KS3.

Time: 10am – 4pm.

£390/day (5% discount for groups under 20)

Tate St Ives Sketchbook Tour

Working as a specialist on the Tate Professional Register for over 13yrs Greg has delivered tours, lectures and workshops to groups and individuals.

The tour uses sketchbook challenges to take you on a journey through prominent artists and ideas of the 20th century referring to specific artworks in the gallery. Using fun and practical sketchbook challenges you will work in front of the artworks within the gallery.

Let Greg know any projects/themes you are currently working on and he can use them as points of reference throughout. Can be tailored for KS3 – KS5. 2 hours.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

St Ives Story Walk

Join acclaimed St Ives storyteller, Shanty Baba, to hear hugely entertaining stories that bring the beautiful town of St Ives to life.

Smugglers, folklore, supersitions, customs, fishing, bohemian artists, mining, ghost stories, the local ‘bogey man’… Shanty has a huge wealth of stories that will entertain, inspire and educate your pupils.

Described as ‘an enchanting and magical experience’.

75 minutes.

£6 per person (max charge £200), staff go free

Pigments & Paints Workshop

Get Neolithic with environmental artist and woodsman Greg Humphries!

Meeting at Cohort you will go into the wild Cornish landscape to gather visual imagery, then return to Cohort to grind your own pigments and mix your own paint.

Greg will then show you several techniques, moving back in time from modern art to cave painting, which will give you the opportunity to create your own beautiful and interesting artworks.

Duration: 2 – 3 hours. Ages: 14+. Maximum number of students: 18.

£250/workshop including materials

Ben Nicholson Walking Tour (self-led)

Ben Nicholson (1894–1982) was one of the most radical British artists of the twentieth century and has long been recognised as a leading exponent of the modern movement in Britain.

This multimedia walking tour takes you through St Ives, connecting places and spaces in and around the town to Nicholson, his work and his life.

Free

Chris Webber – Photography

Chris became involved in photography at an early age, when working as a picture interpreter. During this time Chris learnt photography skills and darkroom techniques; he then went on to run a successful photography business for 17 years.

Chris has been surrounded by art and artists for most of his life, spending much of his childhood in West Cornwall, where his mother was born and raised. He moved permanently to the area in his early twenties and continues work as a professional photographer where, along with his interest in art, has photographed local artists’ work, seascapes, portraits and has been involved in commercial photography and weddings.

Chris loves visiting super special spots around the coast of West Cornwall to watch and photograph the dawn of a new day, nature at its wildest, sunsets and beyond.

You can view some of his work on his website.

Various dependent on activity

St Ives eBikes

2-3 hour guided eBike rides exploring the wilds of West Cornwall, cycling on a combination of quiet lanes and bridleways. Tours are fully customisable and can include stops at viewpoints, megalithic sites and old mine works.

Guides are qualified ride leaders and participants must be 14yrs+, able to ride a bike and have a modest level of fitness.

Groups of <21 participants including staff. All equipment provided.

£35 per person

Hayle Towans

The Towans, Cornish for dunes, mainly comprise broken-down seashells which have been blown onshore. They are calcareous and support lime-loving plants rarely found in Cornwall, which is predominantly made up of acidic granite.

It is the richest botanical site west of the River Fal, supporting a quarter of all the plant species ever recorded in Cornwall.

A great example of sand dune succession and an opportunity to investigate primary, secondary and tertiary dune bio-diversity for KS2 & KS3 geography topics.

Free

Newlyn Art Gallery Artist-led Activities

This full or half day artist led session will be directly informed by the current exhibition. It will begin with a tour and discussion, followed by a workshop responding to the exhibiting artist(s) and their work. The development of ideas and experimentation in methods and mediums is key to these sessions.

£145/half day £220/full day

Monoprinting Workshop

Landscape Printmaker Oliver West offers a choice of three versatile mono-printing processes. Suitable for any age group as it can be offered as simply or elaborately as desired. Mono-printing is great for image making directly in the landscape as certain techniques can be used to take advantage of the current weather conditions.

These workshops are always fun, as this easy process quickly takes the activity of mark-making to another level. There is the element of surprise as the image is only revealed once the maker decides that its ready to print and peel!

Group size: 18 – 30. Timings: Half day. If you’d like to make a day of it two of these workshops can be run back-to-back and students can experience two types of monoprinting

£20/student. Includes all materials and access to the mobile printmaking set up

Tate St Ives

Discover the magic of Tate St Ives, where art meets stunning coastal views. Immerse yourself in both the current exhibition and the permanent collection of St Ives Artists, including works by renowned painters such as Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson.

School groups of all ages can explore this amazing space independently or with a Tate gallery guide, discovering the stories behind the artworks and the artists who created them.

After recently undergoing a transformative renovation, Tate St Ives has earned its place on the international art scene, making it a must-visit destination for everyone. Located on the site of the old gas works in St Ives, this gallery boasts one of the most beautiful settings in the world.

Open year-round (except for November-February when closed on Mondays), a trip to St Ives simply isn’t complete without a visit to Tate St Ives.

The visit for students under 19 is always free however they do offer a number of paid-for workshops, view / download the options HERE.

Free for U19s if booked as a group in advance. Pay £8.50/staff member (free for Cornish schools staff)

Penwith Gallery

Penwith Gallery has been a St Ives institution for artists and art lovers since opening its doors in 1961. The gallery is the home of the Penwith Society of Arts (founded by such luminaries as Dame Barbara Hepworth and Ben Nicholson) whose current members exhibit year-round in the Members gallery, alongside two additional exhibition spaces showing works by some of the world’s best contemporary artists.  

All exhibition pieces are for sale and the gallery offers the popular OwnArt scheme, ensuring there is something for everyone’s budget.

The gallery also contains an archive collection in the Hepworth Room, a sculpture courtyard, and has a full programme of events throughout the year. Staff are happy to give an introductory talk to visitors and groups, and although formal workshops are not held in the gallery spaces students are welcome to sketch.

Advance booking of visits is preferred.

FREE

Storytelling at Cohort

An evening of performance storytelling at Cohort with acclaimed St Ives storyteller Shanty Baba. The perfect way to spend a winter evening.

From Cornish folklore to Greek myths, from ghost stories to everything in between, Shanty will enthral you with his engaging performance which can be adapted for all ages (KS2 – KS4).

The evening can then be extended to include a storytelling workshop culminating in performances by the pupils, either individually or in groups.

Shanty will happily work with you to tailor the evening to specific themes.

£100 for 1 hour storytelling or £150 for storytelling & workshop

Falmouth University Activities

Falmouth University’s School & College Partnerships Programme is designed to support high quality creative provision in schools and colleges by offering a range of activities to inform and support students regarding their progression both into Higher Education and a creative career.

Falmouth University are able to offer you a fantastic day filled with:

  • Presentations, advice & guidance
  • Guest lectures, masterclasses and workshops across a wide variety of creative disciplines including Animation, Film, Photography, Fine Art, Textiles, Print Making, Fashion, Theatre & Dance, Gaming, Architecture, Event Management, Sustainable Festival Management, Sustainable Tourism Management, Interior Design and Sustainable Product Design
  • Campus tours

All activities can be linked to Gatsby benchmarking.

With phenomenal facilities and a superb, global reputation Falmouth University will not only enrich your trip itinerary through workshops they can provide, they will also offer your students a unique insight into university life.

It’s an inspirational day out and will cost you nothing!

Duration: 10am – 2/3pm. Group size <60. Suitable for Y10+.

Free

St Ives Archives

St Ives Archives, based in Carbis Bay (1 mile from St Ives) is a wealth of information about all things St Ives. For those studying art history within St Ives or those who would like some context for the town it’s a worthwhile visit.

Visits are by appointment only and suitable for no more than 2 or 3 people at a time.

Free

Human Geography – St Ives Town

Investigate how house prices change with distance from the coast. (impact of the physical environment on urban areas). ‘A’ Level.

Clone survey. (comparing local urban characteristics with others). ). BOTH  ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

N.B. Historically there is a huge range and diversity of arts and culture for the size of the town so atypical in many ways enabling a fuller evaluation discussion.

St Ives offers the opportunity for an investigation based on a research question or issue defined and developed by the student and approved by the school to address aims, questions and/or hypotheses relating to the specification.

A study in St Ives will incorporate the observation and recording of field data and/or evidence from field investigations that is of good quality and relevant to the topic under investigation as required by the various exam boards.

Free

Minack Theatre (performances)

The Minack is a unique open air theatre perched on the cliffs above the Atlantic Ocean. It’s an extraordinary place to visit and during the summer months (May – September) they have a great programme of theatre performances, both evening and matinee.

Check what’s on to see if you can organise watching something during your trip.

£5-10/person

Rowena Tarplee – Art

Rowena is an experienced secondary Art teacher and Art practitioner. She studied at Edinburgh College of Art and her spark for teaching was ignited in the following years while working as an Artist in residence in a small village in South Africa.

Rowena has taught in a dynamic and exciting Art department in a local secondary school for the last 16 years. She has extensive experience in teaching KS3 Art and Design, GCSE Fine Art, GCSE Photography, A-Level Fine Art and BTEC Level 3 Art and Design.

Rowena also thoroughly enjoys working with Primary students and has taught various workshops to students ranging from Reception to Year 6.

She prides herself on providing exciting art workshops which encourage students to explore and experiment with freedom, confidence and self-expression.

Rowena has exhibited her own artwork across the UK and in South Africa.

Download a guide to her workshops HERE, all of which can be adapted to suit your group.

Various depending on activity

Kayaking Tour

Join award winning St Ives Surf School for a 90 minute kayaking tour, taking students on a scenic trip around the shores of St Ives with an expert guide with local knowledge.

Tours can be done in single or double kayaks and all instructors are DBS checked and used to working with schools and young people.

All relevant instruction and equipment provided.

£30+VAT/person

St Ives Treasure Trail

Purchase a St Ives Treasure Trail pack from Cohort or in advance online and divide your students into groups of 4 or 5. This self-guided mystery walking trail will take them all around St Ives, exploring back streets and discovering landmarks they may never have noticed.

This 2.25 mile loop trail can take around 2 – 3 hours depending on the ages of the students and you don’t have to do it all at once! Space it out over the course of the trip, an hour here, an hour there and award prizes to the group who solves the mystery first.

£9.99/treasure trail pack

Geevor Tin Mine (Geography & Geology)

Situated on the stunning Cornish coastline around Pendeen, Geevor Tin Mine has an LOTC quality badge and an award winning learning team. Ideal for KS3 and KS4 students Geevor Tin Mine offers a wealth of opportunities for Geography & Geology students.

The dedicated and experienced Learning Team can adapt a visit to accommodate visits to meet the specific curriculum needs of your group running workshops and guided site visits from the geology of mining through to the social history surrounding mining communities.

You will get the opportunity to meet miners who worked at Geevor in the 70s and 80s and be able to ask your questions directly to those who were hands on with these minerals and processes.

Geevor can accommodate groups of up to 60 students and workshop days run from 10am – 2pm. There will then be time afterward to explore the site independently.

£5.85/student. Staff go free.

Kidz R Us

If you’re staying with us over the summer months or during part of the school holidays a trip to see the ‘show of the moment’ at the Kidz R Us theatre next door is a must.

They are an award winning theatre company who have spawned talent such as the recent The Voice winner Molly Hocking.

Performers ages range from 6 – 21 and the quality of production is incredible.

£10-12 per person

Self-led Beach Clean

Pick up leaflets and bags from staff at Cohort who will give you a quick introduction to beach cleaning and tell you what to look out for. Head down to one of our 5 amazing beaches for an hour of beach cleaning. It’s weirdly addictive and also hugely beneficial to the communities in St Ives.

Free

St Ives Artist Sketchbook Tour

Join Greg Humphries on a walking tour around St Ives stopping at several locations around the town associated with artists such as Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Bryan Wynter, Alfred Wallis and Wilhemena Barns-Graham.

Explore their methods and ideas through practical challenges and sketchbook exercises that will help an understanding of abstraction and deliver a memorable experience.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

Expressive Mark Making on Porthmeor Beach

In this workshop students create their own tools and paintbrushes out of natural materials such as feathers, seaweed and foliage (all provided). They experiment with expressive mark-making and texture using ink, charcoal and collage in response to the environment and landscape around them.

This then leads into colour studies using acrylic and oil pastels. Reference to artists such as Maggie Hambling and Peter Lanyon.

Running for approx. 2 hours this workshop can be extended to 3 hours by incorporating a mini-workshop on assemblage in the style of Margaret Mellis.

Rowena Tarplee is an experienced Art teacher and practitioner; she will work with you to ensure that the session is linked to your groups’ focus or themes and / or create a bespoke workshop package for the day. Download the details of this workshop HERE.

£15 per student (staff go free). All materials included.

Human Geography – City of Truro

Delimiting the CBD of the county town. (town centre development and urban form). ‘A’ Level.

Mapping the sphere of influence of the county town/shopping survey (impact of an urban area on its surrounds). ‘A’ Level. N.B. Truro is an atypical town in having a sphere of influence greater than would be expected for its population size, enabling a fuller evaluation discussion.

This site offers the opportunity for an investigation based on a research question or issue defined and developed by the student and approved by the school to address aims, questions and/or hypotheses relating to the specification.

A study in Truro will incorporate the observation and recording of field data and/or evidence from field investigations that is of good quality and relevant to the topic under investigation as required by the various exam boards.

Truro is 35 minutes from St Ives by coach.

Free

Sam Hughes – Geology

Having grown up in St Ives, Sam followed his passion and curiosity for how the Earth works to become a geologist.

Having left school he went to study a BSc in Applied Geology at the Camborne School of Mines (CSM), University of Exeter, based at the Penryn Campus. Following a spell working as a surveyor, he returned to CSM in 2009 as a lecturer, and to complete a PhD in Earth Resources researching the tectonic evolution of Cornwall and its influence on Cornish granites.

See details of his research here.

Barbara Hepworth Museum Sculpture Tour

Join artist Greg Humphries for a tour around the Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden. Bring a sketchbook and pencil for both 2D sketching and 3D practical activities that explore Hepworth’s work and ideas.

The workshop is designed for students at KS3, GCSE or A level. Greg has over 15 years experience working for Tate as a freelance artist educator. Click here to hear him talking about Hepworth alongside Tate curators.

Time: 2 – 3 hours. Maximum number of students: 20- 25 (limits set by the museum). For larger groups this can be done in conjunction with a group at Tate St Ives and a swap between the two half way through the day.

£190/workshop or £320 for two workshops on the same day (5% discount for groups of less than 20 students)

Physical Geography – Various sites

Photo depicts Quadrat Sampling at Hayle.

Red River, Godrevy near Hayle – investigate downstream changes in river characteristics (rivers/hydrological cycle). BOTH ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

Trevaunance Cove, St. Agnes and/or Kenneggy beach, near Penzance – changing beach characteristics both down and across (coastal systems). BOTH ‘A’ Level and GCSE.

Hayle Towans – successional changes inland across an established sand dune ecosystem/ psammosere. (ecosystems under threat/stress). ‘A’ Level.

All these areas are within a 30 minute coach drive of St Ives.

Free

Eden Project

Visit the Eden Project on the way to / from us or have a superb day out from St Ives. From over 35 workshops on a variety of subjects through to outdoor learning and free, downloadable trails the Eden Project has something for every school group and is a truly amazing site in the heart of Cornwall.

Discover the perfect workshop on their School Trips page: scroll to School Workshops at Eden and filter for age group and subject area.

Allow 1 hour by coach / minibus to get there from St Ives and 3 – 4 hours on site (6 hours if you’re doing 2 workshops).

£7.20/student for a self-led visit. £8.25/student for visit which includes a workshop.

Lizard Peninsula

Much of the Lizard Peninsula represents a slice of ancient ocean floor, pushed to the surface when two continents collided. At Coverack you can actually see the Moho – the boundary between the Earth’s crust and the Earth’s mantle – laid flat across the beach. Here you will be able to investigate and identify rocks which, 30 million years ago, were about 5km below the ocean floor. Visit Lizard Point and Kynance Cove for more examples of this unique environment.

At Cohort we can put you in touch with local geography and geology teachers who will be able to assist you in fieldwork studies and point you in the direction of the best locations to meet your learning outcomes.

PLEASE NOTE: Walking involved as coaches cannot access parts of the coast.

Free