Heritage sites in line for education awards

21/11/2012

Forty-nine heritage sites across the UK are to receive a prestigious Sandford Award next week (28th November) recognising excellence in heritage education through their work with schools.

The awards are jointly managed by Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln and the Heritage Education Trust, and the winners represent a rich variety of heritage sites from across the British Isles.

Among this year's winners are the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the Navan Centre & Fort in Armagh, Cardiff Castle and Haddon Hall in Derbyshire.

The awards ceremony will take place on 28th November at Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire, which is also one of the winners of a 2012 Sandford Award. The awards will be presented by Her Grace the Duchess of Marlborough, while the author and broadcaster Hugo Vickers will be the guest speaker.

Jean Macintyre, Head of Innovation at Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln, said: "It's fitting that this year's Sandford Awards will be presented at such a beautiful and historic venue as Blenheim Palace - particularly since Blenheim is also one of our winners this time round.

"Every year the Sandford Awards grow in prestige and we were all delighted with the quality of this year's entries."

John Hamer, Chairman of the Heritage Education Trust, commented: "The wide range of excellent projects showcased by the Sandford Awards this year shows just how active and successful the sector is in championing learning.

"A better understanding of our shared heritage is essential if we are all to have the opportunity to enjoy this rich and diverse national resource."

The Sandford Awards were established in 1978 by Lord Sandford to encourage those responsible for running historic houses and guide their educational endeavours by monitoring standards.

The awards were originally administered run by The Council for Environmental Education. To develop the awards more fully, the Heritage Education Trust was established in 1983 and now runs the scheme in collaboration with Bishop Grosseteste University College Lincoln.