Sea in Our School launched in September 2024 with a clear ambition – to make world-class marine education accessible to every primary school in Plymouth.
Delivered by the Ocean Conservation Trust for Plymouth Sound National Marine Park (PSNMP), this programme is the first of its kind in the city. It connects schoolchildren with their local marine environment, helping them build a meaningful relationship with the ocean on their doorstep.
Across the school year, Sea in Our School delivers a series of curriculum-linked, interactive sessions that combine practical exploration, real-world experiences, and classroom learning, bringing the ocean to life through adventure and curiosity.
Sea in Our School blends in-person and digital experiences to connect students with the National Marine Park:
Visit
A class trip to one of PSNMP’s landmark sites, exploring through hands-on activities
Outreach
A PSNMP classroom visit to deliver an interactive learning experience linked to the Marine Park.
Virtual
A livestreamed, interactive video session into your classroom from an iconic National Marine Park coastal site.
Learning Themes
Across all activities, Sea in Our School explores four key themes:
- Nature: environment, wildlife, ecosystems, coastal features
- Arts & Heritage: culture, history, creativity
- Careers: jobs, maritime economy, STEM pathways
- Recreation: play, wellbeing, responsibility
Impact
Sea in Our School launched in 2024, and thanks to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it’s fully funded until 2028.
The programme is designed for Plymouth primary schools only, with each year focussing on a different year group:
- September 2024: Year 3
- September 2025: Year 4
- September 2026: Year 5
- September 2027: Year 6
Explore the map below to see which schools have been involved so far…
What teachers say about Sea in Our School:
“Members of the team were all extremely knowledge about their specialist field, which then provided the children with enthusiastic practitioners to entice them into another new world which many have never experienced. Thank you for putting together a wealth of opportunities for the children to engage with.”
“We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an engaging and meaningful project. It has offered children experiences they wouldn’t normally have as part of their education and inspired them to think about sea life and their local area in a deeper way. Your staff have interacted with the children beautifully and answered many of their questions, while also igniting curiosity. Every child has come away with new knowledge and experience which I am sure they will remember forever!”
“It was a great experience and every school should be able to access this. It is a fantastic way to learn about the local area and what makes Plymouth special. This is something we cannot explore in the usual curriculum.”
“I thought the whole programme was fantastic. It was easy to engage and Elspeth was so knowledgeable and helpful! The children loved all the sessions.”
Get Involved
Are you a teacher interested in joining Sea in Our School, or a local practitioner keen to deliver marine-themed sessions with us? We’d love to hear from you! To learn more or express your interest, please contact PSNMP Project Lead, Elspeth Shears at elspeth.shears@oceanconservationtrust.org.
To hear about upcoming programmes and opportunities with the OCT Learning Programme for Schools, sign up for our mailing list using the button below.
