The idea for The Heritage Education Trust was conceived as a direct result of The European Architecture Year. Founder members of this project, Lord Montagu, at English Heritage, Lord Sandford, at The Department of the Environment and Commander Michael Saunders Watson at the Historic Houses Association sought to carry forward the idea of raising the profile of the educational use of historic properties.
Lord Sandford instituted an award scheme to encourage those responsible for running historic houses and guide their educational endeavours by monitoring standards. "The Sandford Awards" were originally run by The Council for Environmental Education. However, in order to administer and develop this work more fully, the Heritage Education Trust was formalised in 1983.
Entrants for Sandford Awards are assessed by a panel of independent Judges. The current panel of Judges is drawn from professional educationalists including OFSTED Inspectors, former head teachers, education consultants and heritage property based education officers.
The Sandford Award Scheme currently encompasses over 150 historic sites within the historical and cultural enviornments of the United Kingdom and Ireland and includes historic houses, museums, galleries, cathedrals, gardens and historic artefacts.
Owners and managers of heritage properties, where special provision has been made for educational visits by children of statutory school age, are invited to apply for The Sandford Award for Heritage Education
The Awards are made annually and are non competitive, recognising quality and excellence in the educational services and facilities at a site, as specified in the criteria laid down by the Trust:
The awareness of and adherence to the statutory requirements of the appropriate national curricula
An interpretation of the property that contributes to raising the awareness of the understanding of the local and national heritage
Evidence of good liaison between the property and appropriate educational establishments
How well the educational potential of the property is being developed
Provision of relevant educational resources
Availability of the necessary domestic facilities
Provision of additional facilities that enhance the quality of the students' visit
The Award is valid for five years from the date of the Award, after which all Award holding properties are required to apply to the Heritage Education Trust for a full reappraisal of their educational programmes. The five year validation period will be shown on the Award Certificate. Failure to reapply or to pass a new inspection will, subject to appeal, result in the property losing the listing as a 'Sandford Award Holding Property' and with it the right to display the Heritage Education Trust logo on publicity and educational material
Awards are presented to the winners at a National Presentation Ceremony held at one of the winning properties in late autumn of the year of application, It is a major event in the Heritage Education calendar and all winning properties are invited to attend.
The Judges' Panel covers a range of sites within the historic environment to ensure consistancy in the assessment process the judges work to a common plan, as detailed in the Judges Handbook. This is a useful reference tool for applicants to understand the assessment process.
The Sandford Award is regarded as an independently judged Quality Assured Assessment of Heritage Education within the historic and cultural environment.
Recognition of the importance and the prestige of The Sandford Awards is reflected in the Annual National Ceremony.
David Lammy, MP Minister for Culture at the DCMS in presenting the Sandford Awards for 2005 affirmed the role of the historic environment in introducing young people to the culture and history of Britain and the importance of the work of The Heritage Education Trust in ensuring high standards and purposeful visits.
"I believe the idea of linking our cultural heritage with schools is a very important one. There are many exciting programmes about doing just that, The Sandford Awards celebrate the most successful.
I want to encourage that relationship and think one way of doing that is to encourage The Sandford Awards and applaud them for what they have done."
The Right Honourable Charles Clarke, MP
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
November 24th 2003
In recent years the venues have included:
The Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford
Edinburgh Castle Big Pit: National Mining Museum of Wales
Thackray Museum
Wallace Collection
HM Tower of London
Llancaiach Fawr Living History Museum
Goodwood House
Glamis Castle
HMS Warrior - Flagship Portsmouth
The Queen's House, Greenwich
Dunham Massey
Bowhill
Rockingham Castle
Lichfield Cathedral
The Bass Museum
Culzean Castle
Cathedral Church of St Albans
Wimpole Hall
Wigan Pier
Awards have been presented by:
Director of the Heritage Lottery Board
Kathleen Dalyell
Minister for Culture
Chairman of Board of Trustees, Royal Armouries
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Rosalind Savill, Director of the Wallace Collection
The Secretary of State for Scotland
The Minister for the Arts
The Archbishop of Westminster
The Admiral of The Fleet
The Chairman of English Heritage
Mr Magnus Magnusson
Lord Briggs of Lewes
Mr Simon Jenkins.
Miss Sara Edwards, BBC Wales
Heritage Education Trust Chairman: Wilf Weeks
Chief Executive: Gareth Fitzpatrick
The Heritage Education Trust, Boughton House, Kettering, Northamptonshire,
Telephone:01536 515731
e-mail: het@boughtonhouse.org.uk The Heritage Education Trust is a Charitable Company Limited by Guarantee Registered in England No. 2080758 Charity Commision Registration Number: 297311
