Fife schools embark on maritime adventures bringing history to life. First wave of primary school pupils explores Scotland’s fishing heritage at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, thanks to vital support from the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust.
The Scottish Fisheries Museum (SFM) has successfully launched a three-year school learning programme, welcoming the first year of local primary school pupils to explore Scotland’s rich fishing past.
Supported by generous funding from the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust. This initiative provides local schools with the opportunity to visit the Museum in Anstruther and step directly into history aboard the iconic Reaper – the Museum’s historic Fife herring drifter.
The summer term visits saw the Museum and harbour buzzing with excitement as pupils traded the classroom for the harbourside. Pupils from Colinsburgh, Kingsbarns, Largoward, Lawhead, Lundin Mill and Pittenweem Primary Schools had a hands-on heritage experience guided by the Museum’s Learning Team and expert Fleet Volunteers.
During the visits school pupils are able to:
- Step directly into history aboard the Reaper, the museum’s Fifie herring drifter built in 1902.
- Explore life on and below deck with the museum’s expert Fleet Volunteers.
- Handle Museum objects and trace the journey of the catch from sea to shore.
- Explore historic costume worn by fisherfolk in the past and compare it with what we wear today.
“It has been a joy to watch history come to life for these pupils over the past few week!” said Julia Branch, Learning and Engagement Officer at the Scottish Fisheries Museum. “Seeing the children explore the Reaper and engage so enthusiastically with our collections is exactly what this project is about. We are incredibly grateful to the Scottish Fishermen’s Trust. Their funding ensures that local schools can access these high-quality, unforgettable learning experiences completely free of transport barriers.”
Eilidh Green, class teacher from Lundin Mill Primary, said:
“We had a really good day. The pupils loved visiting the Reaper and getting hands on deck. They liked the hunt in the gallery as well.”
These visits would not have been possible without the support of the Museum’s learning and fleet volunteers. “From work behind the scenes to guiding the pupils around the Reaper and the Museum, our volunteers’ dedication and enthusiasm have been invaluable in making these visits enjoyable for both pupils and school staff”, Julia says, “the Museum is grateful for everything our volunteers do to create engaging experiences for all our visitors”.
Funded Spaces Available – Open for School Bookings
Following the success of the first year, the Museum is inviting primary schools across Fife to take advantage of this opportunity. The grant covers the cost of transport to and from the Museum and they are accepting advance bookings for May 2027 and 2028.
“Whether a school is located nearby or in a more distant part of Fife, please get in touch”, says Julia, “the funding ensures that transport costs are completely covered, making it easy for teachers to plan a fun day outside the classroom. So give us a phone or drop us an email, we would love to hear from you”.
Any primary schools and teachers interested in booking a visit or want to find out more please contact the Julia Branch, Learning and Engagement Officer at julia@scotfishmuseum.org or call the Museum on 01333 310 628.
Image: Scottish Fisheries Museum