School Tours Overview

What Happens on a School Tour

Education tours are focussed on NSW curriculum requirements. A visit to Parliament House allows students to acquire knowledge and understanding of key areas in the History Stages 4 – 5 Syllabus. Whilst completing a tour they will engage in civics and citizenship education, learning about the growth of democracy in NSW and the federation of the colonies into the new Commonwealth of Australia in 1901. They may participate in a role play, meet their local Member of Parliament and on a sitting day, observe Parliament in action. The site study introduces students to the different levels of government in Australia, the purpose and role of the NSW Parliament in the governing of NSW and in the creation of the Australian Constitution at Federation. Upon booking a tour, schools are sent a package of resource material. A full range of information brochures and education resource materials is also available online from our education publications pages.

Members of Parliament are advised of any booked tours that originate from their electorate. If available, they may take the opportunity to meet the group. Members of the Legislative Assembly are usually in their electorates rather than at Parliament House on non-sitting days.

The more preparation a group has done before the tour, the more effective their visit will be.

Primary school tours relate mainly to civics and citizenship in the HSIE K-6 syllabus, specifically Stage 3, but can also relate to other parts of the curriculum such as literacy and personal development. Tours include the option of a role play.
Secondary school tours relate mainly to the History, Geography or Commerce syllabuses, Stages 4-5 syllabuses and to Legal Studies Stage 6. Content of the tour can be linked to civics and citizenship, government, legislative processes, history site studies and electoral processes. Role plays can be provided on request.

On completion of the visit, teachers are given a take home extension lesson relating to Federation and Women’s suffrage from Parliament.

Group tours last 60-90 minutes and commence at 9.30am; 11.00am; 12.30pm; 2.00pm; 3.00pm and 4.00pm. The tour covers both Houses of Parliament (Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council).

For primary schools, the maximum group size for each time slot is 80. The recommended maximum for secondary school groups is 50. Small groups may sometimes be combined with other small groups if their requirements are similar.

On Sitting Days, only a very limited tour can be offered and will generally be restricted to viewing either house of Parliament in session from the Visitors' Galleries. Non-sitting days offer more flexibility. To determine which days have been proclaimed Sitting Days, see the Sitting Days Calendar.

For further assistance with planning teaching/learning activities contact our Parliamentary Education Section department.

Excursion risk assessment venue information

For information relating to the Department of Education and Training's excursion risk assessment guidelines, download:

Booking Logistics

School tours may be booked:

online 24 hours a day,
through your local Member of Parliament - call the office of your local State Member of the Legislative Assembly, or a Member of the Legislative Council. For contact details see Members of Parliament, or
by telephone - call the Legislative Assembly front desk on (02) 9230 3444.

Last modified 21/02/2008 18:11:54 : Update this page