Key Stage 2
Our education centre is run by experienced staff. We offer a programme of free sessions for primary schools and additional sessions for secondary schools, universities and community groups.
There are two programmes currently available:
Half day visit to Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works
A half day visit to Ewden Wastewater treatment works will include:
- Introduction to the water cycle and where our water comes from
- Brief presentation about how we treat wastewater - (approx. 10 minutes)
- Guided tour of the site with PPE provided (approx. 40 minutes)
- Activities - 'What causes blockages in our sewers?', The 'Roly Sewer' challenge and 'Can we Flush it?' simple experiments. (approx. 50 minutes)
- Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
Sessions are 9:45am - 11:45am or 12:45pm - 2:45pm Tuesday or Thursday.
Please note that we can only take one class per session.
Full day visit to Ewden Clean and Wastewater Treatment Works
Full day visit to Ewden Clean Water Treatment Works (Morning) and Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works (Afternoon)
A full day visit to Ewden Clean and Wastewater Treatment Works will include:
Morning session
1. Introduction to the water cycle and where our water comes from
2. The 'Baddies in the Works' presentation - how we remove the 'baddies' from the water we treat. (approx. 10 minutes)
3. A guided tour of the site with headsets (approx. 40 minutes)
4. Activities - various group interactive sessions (approx. 40 minutes)
5. Water savers and wasters. Which one are you? (approx. 10 minutes)
6. Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
You will eat your packed lunch at our Clean Water site, then move across to the second centre via your own coach or minibus. Please note there is no outside play area.
Afternoon session
Arrive at Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works;
- Brief presentation about how we treat wastewater - (approx. 10 minutes)
- Guided tour of the site with PPE provided (approx. 40 minutes)
- Activities - 'What causes blockages in our sewers?', The 'Roly Sewer' Challenge and 'Can we flush it?' simple experiments (approx 50/60 minutes)
- Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
Please note that we can only take one class per session.
Full day visit to Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works including our Lego blockages activity
A full day visit to Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works including our Lego activity will include:
- Introduction to the water cycle and where our water comes from
- Brief presentation about how we treat wastewater - (approx. 10 minutes)
- Guided tour of the site with PPE provided (approx. 40 minutes)
- Activities - 'What causes blockages in our sewers?', The 'Roly Sewer' Challenge and 'Can we flush it?' simple experiments (approx 50 minutes)
- Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
You will eat your packed lunch in the classroom. Please note there is no outside play area.
Followed by our Lego blockages activity in the afternoon - (approx. 2 hours max).
Our afternoon Lego blockages activity:
The afternoon Lego session focuses on 'How Fat, Oils and Grease (FOG) can block waste-water pipes and our sewers. We will explore the consequences of these blockages through this engaging STEM learning experience, aimed at sparking creativity, collaboration and critical thinking through the power of purposeful play.
This curriculum aligned session will involve your students using coding and robotics design to complete a real-world challenge using Lego. At the end of the sessions, you students will enjoy bringing their creations to life using simple hardware.
This activity raises awareness of the items we should, and should not, dispose of down the sink and toilet. Students will learn to translate this knowledge into positive action to improve their local communities, their country and the planet.
Sessions are 9:45am to 2:45pm Tuesday to Thursday.
Please note that we can only take one class per session.
Our programmes have been developed with the help of school teachers to support the teaching of key elements and targets of the national curriculum at Key Stage 2. These include:
- Geography - human and physical geography, water cycle, distribution of natural resources including water, locational knowledge of coasts and rivers, topographical features.
- Science (Year 5) - properties and changes of materials, states of matter, evaporation. There will also be some simple practical enquiries, comparative and fair tests as well as identifying differences, similarities or changes related to simple scientific ideas and processes.
- English - supporting writing, vocabulary and composition.
- Maths - supporting number addition/subtraction, measurement and statistics.
- Computing/Design Technology - the Lego programme will support students to build a Lego robot, then create programs to control the robot, use equipment safely and responsibly as well as evaluating any completed work.
- PSCHE - Climate change - Help students understand how small changes they make at home or school can make a big difference to our planet and reduce the impact on our environment.
- PSCHE - To make students aware of the dangers of open water and how to stay safe near open water.
- PSCHE - Prepare students for the opportunities, responsibilities and experiences of later life/careers.
- Eco Schools - If you are already an accredited Eco-School or on your way to becoming one, water, litter or waste are of course some of the 10 topics you can choose from within your school's project!
What better way of giving your students an understanding of the importance of these topics than planning a visit with us to talk about ‘all things water and waste’.
We cover many of the requirements of the Eco-Schools Green Flag questions / requirements for Eco School Status, such as helping your students understand how to save water and not waste water, as well as topics such as what should or should not go down the toilets, helping them to understand how small changes at home or in school can really help our planet.
For more information about this, visit Eco Schools website at: https://www.eco-schools.org.uk/ten-topics/water/
Key Stage 3 & 4
Our KS3 programme has been developed with the help of school teachers, and links to the national curriculum, in particular for Geography & Science subjects. These topic areas include:
Science - simple comparative experiments , wastewater treatment processes, some climate change issues and how global warming affects water as a resource.
Geography - changing landscapes, urban challenges such as population growth and it's effect on the environment as well as the effects on climate including the impact of extreme weather.
Our GCSE KS4 programme has been developed with the help of school teachers and links to KS4 curriculum requirements, in particular for GCSE Geography and GCSE Science (Combined) as well as the separate Science pathways. Exam board specifications covered include AQA, OCR, Pearson / Edexcel and WJEC.
In GCSE Science, the relevant topic areas include wastewater treatment, including anaerobic digestion as well as some discussion about the impact of climate change and the environmental issues within the water industry.
In GCSE Geography, the relevant topics included are rivers, water management, urban challenges such as population growth, as well as some discussion about the challenges/effects of climate change and extreme weather within the water industry such flooding.
Linking to Gatsby Benchmarks
During your visit, if requested, we can provide a short careers talk to include details about careers within Yorkshire Water as well as information about our apprenticeship programme and graduate scheme.
Half-day session at Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works
- Introduction to the water cycle and where our water comes from
- Brief presentation about how we treat wastewater - (approx. 10 minutes)
- Guided tour of the site with PPE provided (approx. 40 minutes)
- Activities - 'What causes blockages in our sewers?', The 'Roly Sewer' Challenge and 'Can we flush it?' simple experiments. (approx 30 minutes)
- Careers in the Water Industry (approx. 10 minutes)
- Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
Key Stage 5, Higher Education, Further Education and Adult visitors
Our education centres are run by experienced Education Advisers. Whilst our main offering is a programme of sessions for Key Stage 2, we are able to offer half day sessions for colleges, universities and community groups. All visits are by pre-arrangement and are for group bookings only. A minimum of 20 participants is preferred.
Half day visit to Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works
A half day visit to Ewden Wastewater treatment works will include:
- Introduction to the water cycle and where our water comes from
- Brief presentation about how we treat wastewater - (approx. 10 minutes)
- Guided tour of the site with PPE provided (approx. 40 minutes)
- Activities - 'What causes blockages in our sewers?', The 'Roly Sewer' challenge and 'Can we Flush it?' simple experiments. (approx. 50 minutes)
- Plenary session. What have we learnt? (approx. 10 minutes)
Sessions are 9:45am - 11:45am or 12:45pm - 2:45pm Tuesday or Thursday.
Please note that we can only take one class per session.
Joining us for lunch?
Take on our Waste Warriors Challenge!
If you are visiting us for the full day, we invite your group to take part in our Waste Warriors challenge. We'd like to challenge you to bring a lunch that uses as little amount of waste as possible so students are exposed to sustainable food choices and recycling.
Meet the team
Senior Education Adviser
Lia
Having worked in education for over 17 years and as a teacher for 8 of those, I am truly passionate about education. I thoroughly enjoy working with children (and adults for that matter) and teaching them about things that are important, and our beautiful environment is one of those.
Water plays such a vital role in our everyday lives and is a resource we all need to be responsible for. I am proud to be part of a team of people who share the same passions. At Yorkshire Water we put people at the heart of everything we do, and our education centre at Ewden Water Treatment Works is no exception. Our team cannot wait to meet you and take you on a guided tour of our site, or we can meet with you on our outreach programmes too. We look forward to showing you the significant role Yorkshire Water plays and help to educate you more about how we can all work together to protect our beautiful Yorkshire environment.
Education Adviser
Ruth
I started work with Yorkshire Water in February 2023. Prior to this I was a teacher in a secondary school for over 23 years. I am excited to be part of the education team here at Ewden.
Yorkshire Water supply over 1.3billion litres of tap water each day and it is vital that we all become aware of what a precious commodity it is and how lucky we are to have access to clean water so readily. We all need to educate ourselves and our families of how we can conserve and protect our water supply for present and future generations, and here at Ewden that is what we aim to do!
In my spare time, I am a keen walker and I am thankful that I live in such a beautiful county with access to amazing countryside.
Education Adviser
Ann
I joined the Team in November 2017 after a teaching career of 35 years. For me, my role as an Education Adviser combines two things I enjoy, working with young people, and conservation and the environment. In my free time I enjoy walking my dog, cycling and running and growing my own vegetables (using water saved in water butts of course!).
Education Adviser
Louise
Having previously worked at Yorkshire Water in various parts of the business, I rejoined the company in September 2024 to be part of the Education Team based at Ewden Water Treatment Works.
For the previous 14 years I have been running my own business working in an education capacity with pre-school children, but was excited to return to Yorkshire Water in a role where I could combine my knowledge of the business with my passion - working with and educating children.
Visiting our education centres is a great way for children to understand what a precious resource water is and how much work goes into treating it. I love meeting new schools and students everyday and bringing the story of the ‘baddies in our works’ to life.
Location & Risk Assessments
The address of our Education Centre is Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works, Manchester Road, Sheffield, S35 0BN.
The what3words location is royal.dined.lock
Prior to your visit, we will send you a copy of our risk assessment.
Please note that you will be visiting an operational site and on very rare occasions there may be circumstances that cause temporary suspension of visits. This would be very unusual and if we became aware of any instances, you would be informed at the earliest opportunity.
Our school visits are usually free of charge, but please be aware that should you cancel with less than 3 weeks notice, we regret that we will have to charge a cancellation fee of £100 per session.
We do not charge cancellation fees in circumstances where there are bad weather conditions which would either (a) prevent you getting to our sites or (b) cause health & safety concerns during your visit. Should cancellations occur due to bad weather conditions, or for operational reasons out of our control, we will work with you to rebook your session at a mutually convenient time.
Should your group have any specific needs in terms of access, please let us know as soon as possible.
Our education centres are on operational treatment sites and there are clear no smoking and no vaping policies in place. If any individual is found to be smoking or vaping during a tour/visit, we reserve the right to cancel the tour with immediate effect.
All groups are asked to bring a minimum of 1 adult to every 8 students under 16 years of age. Please note if students are of secondary/college age, then a minimum of 2 supervising adults per group is compulsory.
Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works risk assessment form
Access at Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works
We aim to accommodate children of all educational and special needs, however as these buildings are all working sites, teachers are advised to read the following information before making a booking.
The education classroom is at the front of the site so easily accessible. The tour of the works includes a number of staircases, and these elements are not suitable for wheelchair access. Our education advisers are well prepared to adapt language and activities depending on the reading age and educational needs of the students in the tour group. Students with special educational needs are welcome. The education team will consult with you regarding the needs of your proposed group and make recommendations should there be any concerns which would compromise health and safety on site. The visit is recommended for Year 4 upwards.
Book a visit to Ewden Wastewater Treatment Works
To avoid disappointment we recommend you book early!
Once a booking has been made, we'll offer you a resource pack and send you a pre-prepared risk assessment.
