Visiting the University

We realise that with the cuts in school budgets schools will find it difficult to attend events and as a result this may prevent students from being inspired to consider applying for a higher education course.

The University of Northampton will endeavour to provide subsidised and/or FREE transport for our FREE events and opportunities through our Schools Engagement programmes.

SPARK primary schools and partner secondary schools with a signed Information Sharing Agreement, a returned Data Collection Form and Register for the pupils who attended an on campus opportunity will be eligible to apply for a Transport Reimbursement of up to £350, where applicable.

See below how to claim.

Please be aware that whilst coaches can drop and collect directly from our Waterside Campus, there is no parking.

Before the event

1. Once you have booked onto an opportunity, book and pay for your own transport.
2. Send your quote for the transport on school headed paper (not the coach company booking form or invoice) to either:
   • schoolsengagement@northampton.ac.uk for travel to primary school opportunities
   • SEfutures@northampton.ac.uk for travel to secondary school opportunities
   • STEAMnorthants@northampton.ac.uk for travel to STEAM Northants
   • or your school co-ordinator, if you are a partner secondary school.
3. The current bursary is a maximum of £350.
4. You will receive a Purchase Order from our finance department.

After the event

1. Look for the number on the Purchase Order, sent to you by purchasereq@northampton.ac.uk
2. Create and send your invoice to invoicing.invoicing@northampton.ac.uk quoting this number
3. Please do this promptly after attending an opportunity

NB. No payments will be agreed or paid for if quotes are sent to the University of Northampton after the event has taken place. We do not pay coach companies directly.

Payment of travel reimbursement: To enable prompt payment, please provide activity registers within one month of the activity taking place. This allows the University of Northampton to process any eligible transport bursary claims. Please note that invoices cannot be paid without a register.

Download the University of Northampton Risk Assessment (Word, 162 KB) for visiting any of our sites for a Schools Engagement activity.

Photography and filming may take place during any of our activities/events (on campus or in your school/college) for publicity purposes. It is your schools’ responsibility to acknowledge that photography and filming will take place during our activities/events. The school/college must inform our team of any relevant image consent restrictions relating to participating students and will work collaboratively with the team to ensure that photography, filming, safeguarding, data protection and any required consent arrangements are managed in accordance with both organisations’ policies and procedures.

Upon arrival at our campus, school staff will be welcomed by a member of the Schools Engagement team or a student ambassador, who will remind you that photos/videos may be taken during the event. The same applies when events are held at your school.

If specific students do not consent to photographs being taken, we will respect their wishes. We will agree in advance how they would like to be identified so that our staff know not to take pictures of them and ensure this is done in a way that does not single out the child or make them feel isolated. For example, using yellow lanyards to clearly identify those without consent. We will never exclude a child from an activity because we do not have consent to take their photograph.

Download our Photography and Filming Guidance for Engaging with Minors document (PDF, 216KB) to find out more.

** Please note that for STEAM Northants events, there is a separate procedure for school pick-ups and drop offs, with details communicated prior to the event.

All drop-offs will be outside the Senate Building, entering Waterside Campus from the Bedford Road in Northampton, NN1 5PH.

• Coaches are only allowed on site for 15 minutes.  Please let your coach company know that there is no coach parking at any time on campus at any time.
• Minibuses and cars can park on campus in the visitor parking area, with prior arrangement and booked in advance through UON. There is a small charge for parking on-campus.

Schools and colleges have been allocated an arrival and departure time. It is crucial that you refer to the email sent to your school/college to ensure the safe arrival and departure of all visitors.

Address: University of Northampton, University Drive, Northampton, NN1 5RB

Entering the University

Enter the University via University Drive (Bedford Road). This is the only access to the university for STEAM Northants. All coaches will be directed through the campus to exit on New South Bridge Road.

You will NOT be able to drop off outside Senate building. The only exception are SEND schools, with prior arrangement.

Please clearly display your school name in ALL vehicles for ease of the Welcome Team on site using our Form C: School Coach sign template (Word, 2MB)

Please complete Form B: Schools Registration Document (Word, 1MB) to speed up registration.

We recommend sharing your phone number with your coach company to communicate any delays at the end of the event.

Departing the University (coaches)

Remind your coach company to enter the University via University Drive (Bedford Road). Remind your coach company to only enter the campus at the agreed departure time. Please confirm this with your coach company in the morning. Coaches are not able to wait on site.

There are a high volume of coaches entering the site between 1.30pm – 4.00pm. We will do everything possible to ensure a smooth departure. Please be prepared to board your coach very quickly and depart as soon as everyone is seated.

Please count your children whilst you are waiting for your coach and again as they are getting on the coach. Do not wait to do this until after children are seated whilst the coach is parked as it forms a huge backlog of coaches.

If you are parking / minibuses

Parking is very limited on site and must be requested in advance. Please email us to confirm your details. If you have told us you require minibus parking in advance, you will be directed to park in Car Park 2.

You must walk to the Engine Shed Lawn to register and receive your school information pack. You will be able to depart the university site from University Drive to avoid the coaches.

If you are walking:

Please inform us if you are walking.

You must walk to the Engine Shed Lawn to register and receive your school information pack.

Schools registration – all visitors:

Please register on the Engine Shed Lawn. Schools will also be departing from this area.

Pre booked shows and workshops:

• You do not need to bring tickets.
• We will give you a registration sheet confirming your booked activities when you register your arrival. Check these carefully.
• Ensure all your staff members know where each show is located.
• Inform your students of the show start times and locations, if you have split your cohort into smaller groups.
• Allow ten mins before the show start time to queue for your show.

University of Northampton Code of Conduct for school visits

We very much hope you enjoy your experience and your students understand what the positive aspects of studying at university can have on their futures.

While on campus, the students from your school are your direct responsibility. At no time should they be left alone or with members of the University team without school staff supervision. Students should not be allowed to wander around the campus unsupervised, unless they are year 12/13 students and pre-arranged with the UON team.

This is a learning environment where teaching is always in operation and the conduct of your students should reflect the need to respect this environment. Should the conduct of your students not comply with these expectations, we anticipate that the adult in charge of the group will manage that conduct effectively and quickly to prevent disruption to the group. If this does not happen, one of our team will prompt the staff member in charge of the group.

We anticipate that your group’s conduct during your visit will be of the highest standard, but if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to the UON team.

Anticipated Standard of Student Behaviour 

School staff are responsible for the behaviour of their students during activities, workshops and performances lead by the University of Northampton (UON) on campus and in your school setting. UON staff, students and representatives of UON facilitating activities for schools will not accept rude, offensive or disrespectful behaviour.  Should this occur, immediate suspension of the activity will occur, regardless of whether the activity has been completed.  If there is a cost to UON in facilitating the activity, the school may be charged as a result of this behaviour.

Please ensure that staff always remain present in the room, unless other arrangements have been made with the lead UON staff.  It would be very helpful to the delivery if all staff in the room were spread out to manage behaviour and take responsibility for the actions of their students within the room.