A Birmingham-based museum that welcomes thousands of school children every year, has scooped an award for its education programme.
Selly Manor Museum in Bournville has been awarded the Sandford Award for Heritage Education for their outstanding education programme for schools.
The museum, which last year welcomed 6,555 children from over 130 schools, was presented with the award following a rigorous application and inspection process.
The inspector for the Sandford Award praised the museum’s staff for the engaging way in which they deliver workshops.
Amanda Phillipson, Sandford Award Assessor, said: “The Learning Team is extremely skilled at delivering workshops in an engaging manner, and pupils will leave having taken part in memorable, hands-on learning experience that enhances their classroom work. It is clear that education is at the core of the organisation. This is a well-deserved Sandford Award winner.”
Daniel Callicott, Heritage Manager at Bournville Village Trust, which manages the museum, said: “Everyone in the Selly Manor Museum team and at Bournville Village Trust is absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Sandford Award.
“Every year we welcome over 6,000 school children to the museum, and we put a huge amount of work and energy into bringing history to life for each and every one of them. We want all the pupils who visit us to leave feeling inspired by what they have learnt and more engaged when they go back to the classroom.”
Selly Manor Museum’s educational programme aims to bring the rich history of the museum’s historic buildings, the collection and Bournville’s heritage to life.
Sessions are planned and led by the museum’s knowledgeable Heritage team who put together a fun, educational and inspiring programme. Children enjoy guided tours, take part in dressing up, listen to storytelling and engage with objects.
The Sandford Award is the quality mark for heritage learning and validation for heritage organisations that offer a formal learning programme which supports the relevant curriculum. First instigated in 1978 the Sandford Award recognises museums and galleries, castles, churches, and historic houses, cottages, palaces, archaeological sites, archives and zoos.
Selly Manor Museum is in good company with other sites that have been recognised recently, including Windsor Castle, SS Great Britain and Bletchley Park.
To celebrate the award, Selly Manor Museum is offering travel bursaries for schools wanting to book a trip with them.
The museum has five bursaries of £200 each for schools to spend on travel costs. Bursaries are open to all schools and you can apply by going to www.sellymanormuseum.org.uk/news/2025-01-10/travel-bursaries-for-bournville-school-visits
Selly Manor Museum is managed by Bournville Village Trust, one of the Midlands’ longest-serving independent charitable trusts. It was founded by George Cadbury in 1900.
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