The project was delivered through a partnership between Dunfermline High School and Andrew Carnegie’s Birthplace Museum and provided S2 pupils with the opportunity to learn about the heritage sector, customer service and visitor engagement before taking ownership of a range of authentic workplace roles. The activity was designed to build confidence, communication skills, teamwork and workplace awareness while helping pupils better understand the world of work.

Learning Through Real Experiences

In the lead-up to the event, pupils participated in a series of workshops exploring the life and legacy of Andrew Carnegie, the different careers available within museums and the importance of creating a positive visitor experience.

These sessions helped prepare learners for the responsibilities they would undertake during the takeover day while developing their confidence and understanding of workplace expectations. The pupils also invited parents, carers and school staff to attend the museum and experience the activities they had planned and organised.

Taking Over the Museum

On the day of the event, pupils assumed a variety of visitor-facing roles across the museum, allowing them to apply the skills they had developed during the preparation phase.

Responsibilities included:

• Welcoming and supporting visitors
• Running interactive games and activities
• Assisting in the museum shop and café
• Supporting visitor engagement throughout the museum
• Helping guide guests around exhibits

The experience gave pupils ownership of real responsibilities within a professional setting and encouraged them to develop communication, teamwork and customer service skills while interacting with members of the public.

By working in a live environment, learners were able to gain meaningful insight into careers within heritage, tourism, customer service and event management while experiencing the expectations and rewards of the workplace.

Working in Partnership

Andrew Carnegie’s Birthplace Museum worked closely with the school to design and deliver the project, supporting pupils throughout their journey from initial workshops to the final takeover event.

Museum staff provided expertise, workplace insight and ongoing encouragement, helping create a supportive environment where every learner could participate and succeed. Their involvement reflects a commitment to supporting young people, promoting inclusion and demonstrating the value of meaningful employer engagement experiences.

The partnership provided pupils with access to opportunities that would not typically be available in the classroom and enabled them to experience first-hand how their skills can be applied in a real workplace setting.

What People Said

Feedback from museum staff, visitors and school staff was overwhelmingly positive.

Museum staff described pupils as:

“Confident, enthusiastic and welcoming throughout the day.”

“A credit to themselves and their school.”

School staff observed significant growth in learner confidence and engagement throughout the project.

“Grew in confidence as the workshops progressed.”

“Pupils have been so engaged and loved organising the talks and games.”

Pupils were equally enthusiastic about the experience:

“I made all the tea and coffees myself – look!”

“I really enjoyed creating the morse code game for visitors.”

“This has been great, I had my own work badge.”

Impact and Outcomes

Museum Takeover Day provided a highly meaningful and inclusive learning experience that enabled pupils to develop and demonstrate a wide range of employability and meta-skills in a supportive environment.

Key outcomes included:

• Increased confidence and independence.
• Improved communication and customer service skills.
• Enhanced teamwork and collaboration.
• Greater understanding of workplace expectations.
• Exposure to careers within heritage, tourism and visitor services.
• Development of important meta-skills including adaptability, self-management and responsibility.

The success of the project highlighted the value of authentic workplace experiences for young people and demonstrated how meaningful employer partnerships can help learners build confidence, develop skills and raise aspirations for the future. Through taking ownership of real responsibilities and welcoming members of the public into the museum, pupils gained a sense of achievement and pride that will support them on their future education, training and employment journeys.