Schools

About our events

Plan your next school trip, join us online wherever you are, or learn without leaving your classroom. 

Join us in London, Leeds or online for workshops, interactive sessions, self-guided visits, and teacher CPDs to inspire you and your students. 

What's on

  1. A man in a white t-shirt stands on a stage, talking enthusiastically to a crowd with his arms outstretched, holding a small book in one hand.
    Years 1–2

    Summer Reading Challenge with Trish Cooke and Alex Wharton

    Free

    Celebrate this summer’s challenge with us and Camden Libraries in this free livestreamed event for Years 1–2.

    More info
  2. A greyscale painting depicting Macbeth. Act 1, Scene 3. A heath. Macbeth, Banquo and three witches.
    Teachers of Years 10–11

    Macbeth in Context CPD

    Free

    Free livestreamed CPD for English teachers of Years 10–11.

    More info
  3. A group of secondary school students sitting on the floor, smiling and listening
    Years 9–11

    History of Medicine Study and Discovery Day

    Free
    A collaboration between the British Library and Royal College of Physicians, this hands-on programme supports GCSE History students.
    More info
  4. Three students looking upwards, with an adult in the background pointing
    Years 1–2

    Sensory Storytelling: Unearthed

    Free

    A storytelling session engaging the youngest learners and those with SEND through sensory activities inspired by our current Unearthed exhibition.

    More info
  5. Illustrations of books on a shelf with text above reading Lit in Colour, teacher conference, for primary and secondary
    For teachers and school librarians of years 5–13

    Lit in Colour Teacher Conference 2025

    Free

    A collaboration between Penguin Books and the British Library, this free in-person conference supports English teachers and school librarians of primary and secondary years.

    More info
  6. A student sat looking at a worksheet
    Years 1–6

    Self-Guided Visit: Story Explorers

    Free
    A self-guided opportunity for schools to discover our riotous new hands-on exhibition taking a fresh look at the Library’s collection.
    More info
  7. Photograph of children in Tudor costumes included velvet caps and white ruffs, they are standing in an ornately decorated room with green patterned wallpaper and gold picture frames.
    Years 7–11

    Elizabeth and Mary: Royal Cousins, Rival Queens

    Experience Tudor life and explore the turbulent relationship between Elizabeth I and Mary, Queen of Scots.
    More info
  8. Illustration showing cartoon children wearing orange jumpers playing with boats and tree branches, they stand on an open book. The background colour of the image is bright yellow
    Years 3–6

    Refugee’s Journey: A Drama Workshop

    Free
    Use drama activities to explore space and characterisation, while learning about the experiences of refugees.
    More info
  9. Illustration showing cartoon children playing, three children are wearing pink pig masks, one has a grey wolf mask on, one holds a violin. They are all stop on an open book, the background colour of the image is bright blue
    Years R–2

    Once Upon a Time

    Free

    Through exploring the story of the Three Little Pigs, pupils will develop storytelling skills, strengthening their literacy and oracy.

    More info
  10. Illustration showing cartoon children playing against a red background. They are stood on an open book. One child plays a musical instrument, orange musical notes float above their heads and above that a blue, green and yellow mythical bird
    Years 3–6

    Musical Storytellers

    Free
    Combine literacy with music to have fun developing vocabulary, oracy and comprehension skills.
    More info
  11. Illustration on a green background. Cartoon children standing on an open book. One child holds a homemade megaphone made of an inside out umbrella with trumpets attached to it.
    Years 3–6

    Write Like a Poet

    Free
    What makes a poem? Do they have to rhyme? Can they be silly?
    More info
  12. School age students leaning over a map, two of them are reaching into the middle of the map to point out a location
    Years 3–6

    Voyage into Maps

    Free
    Students will explore maps on display in our Treasures Gallery, thinking critically about their many uses and styles.
    More info
  13. Three uniformed schoolchildren look with interest at something, their faces are lit by a pink light
    Years 1–2

    Once Upon a Time: Tell a Story

    Free
    Students take a well-known story and develop storytelling skills through performance, strengthening their literacy and language skills.
    More info
  14. A school age student wearing a shirt and a beige cardigan stands in front of an exhibition display case and gazes into it
    Years 10–13

    Exploring Black British Literature

    Free
    Explore the rich history of Black writing and literature in Britain.
    More info
  15. Two students in school uniform sat at a desk. They are looking at each other and smiling, the student on the left has placed a hand on a piece of paper on the desk
    Years 3–6 and Years 7–13

    Write Here

    Free
    Students will explore the Library and our Treasures gallery to gain inspiration in this creative writing workshop.
    More info
  16. A group of 6 schoolgirls of varying heights but all dressed in school uniform have gathered around an exhibition display case to look inside of it.
    Years 3–6 and Years 7–13

    Self-guided school visits

    Free
    These flexible visits enable you to lead your group to explore our public spaces and Treasures Gallery.
    More info
  17. Three school age students wearing school uniforms with long hair, worn loose, are looking at a display of stamps
    Years 12–13

    Research Matters Secondary

    Free
    Empower your students to conduct independent research in this hands-on workshop.
    More info
  18. Two schoolboys wearing shcool uniform and holding iPads stand together. They are both looking at their screens, their expressions are amused and interested
    Years 4–6 and Years 7–13

    Windrush Voices

    Free
    This session explores the arrival of the Empire Windrush in Essex in 1948 and the wider social and historical context of this moment.
    More info
  19. A person, seen from behind, wearing a white shirt, headphones and hair in a bun. They are looking at a blue patterned image
    Years 10–13

    Sounds Familiar? Online

    Free
    Uncover ways of analysing speech, accent and dialect by diving into oral history collections from the National Sound Archive through this online workshop.
    More info
  20. Two young students seated at a desk. They are both writing on a worksheets. They are both wearing blue school polo shirts, the child on the right is also wearing a maroon zip up fleece
    Years 5–6

    Research Matters Primary

    Free
    Start developing your class's research skills in this session touching on information literacy, observation, analysis and more.
    More info
  21. A line of four wooden booths with screen inside the booth. A school age child wearing school uniform is sat with their back to camera on a high stool at each of the booths. All children a wearing headphones.
    Years 4–6

    Listen Up! Sound Lab

    Free
    Students use a range of techniques to create, collect, amplify, mix, layer and record sound in this hands-on session.
    More info
  22. A group of school students in uniform, the child in the centre of the image has raised her hand to answer a question, there is a pink tint to the photo
    Years 1–2

    Once Upon a Time: Make a Story

    Free
    Students will create a new story as a class, developing their literacy and language skills through imaginative play.
    More info
  23. A group of 6 students in blue school jumpers and blue plaid skirts stand around a desk. 3 are looking down at the desk, the other 3 students are looking up at a red funnel which is suspended above them
    Years 10–13

    Sounds Familiar?

    Free
    Uncover ways of analysing speech, accent and dialect by diving into oral history collections from the National Sound Archive.
    More info
  24. Two school boys, one in a blue polo shirt, the other in a red jumper, lean over an exhibition display case and to look inside of it. Their expressions show interest in what they are looking at.
    Years 3–6 and Years 7–13

    Making Artists’ Books

    Free
    Learners will make their own artists' books in this hands-on workshop.
    More info

Further content for Schools