Discover, Build, and Explore: Exciting Home Education Days at Catalyst

Home Education Days at Catalyst

Our Home Education Days are designed to give home-educated young people the chance to get hands-on with science, technology and discovery, while meeting others who share their curiosity. Our next Home Education Day is Wednesday 6th May 2026.

Created especially for learners aged 6–14, these days offer access to our curriculum-linked workshops and shows, where children and adults can learn side by side, exploring topics in ways that best suit their interests and learning goals.

Alongside the scheduled activities, you’ll also have time to explore our Interactive Gallery and the rest of the brilliant discovery centre at your own pace. While Catalyst remains open to the public during Home Education Days, we don’t take school bookings on these dates, helping to create a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere for exploration and learning.

Useful Information

  • Prebooking is essential.
  • Every visitor needs a ticket, including accompanying adults and siblings.
  • Museum Admissions tickets for Home Education Days cost £5. Workshops are £2.75pp.
  • All children must be supervised by their grown-ups at all times.
  • Our workshops are generally best suited to ages 6-14. Children under 6 may not be able to join in all sessions.
  • Bookings will be taken on the website using the “book now” link below (not yet available). If you have any questions please send an email (click the link) or give us a phone call ☎ 0151 420 1121

Workshops

11am – 12pm Fabric Painting – In this workshop suitable for ages 5 upwards we will learn about the different ways we have coloured fabric over time, using natural and synthetic dyes. We will develop skills and using two different techniques – tie dye and screen printing, create two products to take away.

1pm – 2pm Glorious Gases – In this workshop we will carry out a number of hands on practical experiments to understand air pressure, vacuums, how different gases behave and prove air is really there. Come and make a rainbow straw, watch a marshmallow grow, and make your own fire extinguisher.