Sandford Awards for Heritage Education

Leeds City Museum, Temple Newsam House, Abbey House Museum and Kirkstall Abbey were all successful in gaining the five year Sandford Award for Heritage Education (the only specifically heritage learning kitemark in the country, sandfordaward.org).

Two independent judges looked at our programmes on paper, visited the venues to experience a workshop and talked to school staff, pupils and our hard-working Learning team to make the awards. It was a large amount of planning and preparation, likened to OFSTED by some.

The judges said:

Temple Newsam is an outstanding example of an historic house that gives an insight into the past, especially the Tudor period. The education programmes on offer are carefully planned and skilfully executed to ensure maximum learning, engagement and enjoyment.

Temple Newsam House, West Yorkshire 2017 Sandford Awards ceremony celebrating excellence in heritage education, held at the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms, Bath. Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography Date: November 21, 2017

Kirkstall Abbey ruins and museum provide an excellent resource for schools. The programmes are engaging and well put together. Staff are enthusiastic and keen to develop rather than stand still. Their commitment to special needs pupils is especially welcome. The ruins provide an easily accessible medieval abbey with a wealth of architectural detail for interesting work across a range of subjects. [Abbey House] offers imaginative and engaging learning experiences, especially for younger children.

Abbey House Museum and Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds 2017 Sandford Awards ceremony celebrating excellence in heritage education, held at the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms, Bath. Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography Date: November 21, 2017

Leeds City Museum is impressive, housing a range of collections that inform and engage students on local, national and international themes. The educational programmes, aimed at both school students of all ages and local and community groups, are equally as impressive and show how a good museum can use their resources and skills to develop a love of learning and appreciation of our heritage.

Leeds City Museum, West Yorkshire 2017 Sandford Awards ceremony celebrating excellence in heritage education, held at the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms, Bath. Picture: Chris Vaughan Photography Date: November 21, 2017

We are very proud of our Learning team and programmes, and wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone who has visited Temple Newsam House, Leeds City Museum, Abbey House and Kirkstall Abbey!

By Kate Fellows, Lifelong Learning Manager.

If you want to join in the fun, have a look at the Learn page of our website.