Hard work rewarded: Fulham Palace receives Sandford Award
Press release July 2019
Fulham Palace Trust is delighted to announce that it has received the Sandford Award for high achievement in heritage education. This award reflects the excellence of the sessions run by the Fulham Palace education team, which includes school visits, under 5’s Palace explorers and the Young Archaeologists Club, all of which were praised for their great content and quality.
The judges were impressed by the “powerful learning experiences” on offer, facilitated through “creative story making and storytelling”, and a “broad range of resources to engage participants” all “vigorously researched” and delivered with “exemplary class teaching skills”. Because of this, the judges felt that Fulham Palace Trust was worthy of a particular commendation for its work.
During the rigorous evaluation carried out by the Sandford Award judges they observed education sessions being led. They assessed different aspects of the Palace’s education programme:
· engaging and inspirational delivery
· that the sessions contribute to understanding of local and national heritage
· development of the programme with consultants and advisors
· good management and administration
· resources and facilities to enhance the quality of the learner’s visit.
The judges were particularly impressed by the importance that every department at Fulham Palace places on education:
There is a strong sense that education is celebrated and valued by all staff across the site. Sessions demonstrated how Fulham Palace aims to positively influence visitors, whether it is enjoying a morning on calm in the garden, an inspiring teaching session or a lifetime of volunteering.
Sandford Award
Fulham Palace has the largest volunteering programme in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, and the involvement of volunteers within the education programme was praised by the judges:
Volunteers meet and greet visitors, check the lunchrooms, prepare and clear away workshop materials and facilitate during sessions. They receive regular training, are fully valued as part of the team and share advice for workshop session with the session leaders.
Sandford Awaard
Kate Kern, learning and engagement manager, is delighted with the award:
Receiving the Sanford Award is a great honour, and a recognition of the Palace’s learning team and all the hard work the staff and volunteers put into our education activities. From running big family fun days for the whole community and adult learning to facilitating Arts Award courses for young people – every session is special. We want to bring the history of Fulham Palace alive to all our visitors and encourage a passion for lifelong learning.
Kate Kern, learning and engagement manager
Fulham Palace has a large education programme, with events for schools, families and the local community. Find out more at fulhampalace.org.
-ENDS-
Notes for editors
Entry to Fulham Palace is free
Further information and press images
Nicola Price, Fulham Palace Trust | 020 7610 7166 | communications@fulhampalace.org
About Fulham Palace
Fulham Palace is the historic home of the Bishops of London. Purchased in AD 704, for centuries the Palace and surrounding estate served as a country retreat for the bishops and their families before becoming the Bishop’s permanent residence in the early 20th century until the last Bishop moved out in 1973. The Palace and 13 acre botanic garden are now managed by Fulham Palace Trust, an independent charity dedicated to the ongoing preservation, restoration and interpretation of this historically important site.
Restoration and renewal
In May 2019 Fulham Palace Trust completed a £3.8 million three year restoration project, supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The Discovering the Bishop of London’s Palace at Fulham project included increased visitor access to some of the oldest parts of the Palace, bringing key historic rooms back to life, and a new museum, designed by architect and heritage consultant, Purcell. The project also included improving access around the botanic garden and replanting historic varieties of plants.
Fulham Palace has a wealth of things to see and do all year round, from finding out about the lives and characters of the Bishops of London in the museum to having lunch in the drawing room café or a walk through the Palace’s garden, including a look at fresh produce grown at the Palace on the market barrow. Admission to Fulham Palace and its garden is free, except for special tours and events.
About the Sandford Award
The Sandford Awards were named after their founder Lord Sandford. The first awards were made in 1978 to encourage those responsible for running historic houses to aim for high achievement in heritage education by monitoring standards.
The awards were originally administered by The Council for Environmental Education. To develop the awards more fully, the Heritage Education Trust was established in 1983. In 2008 Bishop Grosseteste University (BGU) formed a partnership with the Heritage Education Trust to administer the Sandford Award scheme.
http://sandfordaward.org/