The Oxfordshire Museum scoops national heritage learning award
A nationally recognised quality mark has highlighted the Oxfordshire Museum as one of the UK and Ireland’s leading places for heritage learning.
The Oxfordshire County Council-run museum, in Woodstock, has been awarded the Sandford Award for the quality of its heritage learning programme. This includes curriculum linked workshops for schools, as well as informal learning opportunities for families and visitors.
The award is the UK and Ireland’s leading quality mark for heritage learning and recognises sites that offer engaging, inspiring and inclusive learning experiences. Independently assessed, it celebrates high-quality education programmes at heritage sites.
The Oxfordshire Museum is listed among the 2026 Sandford Award recipients by the Heritage Education Trust.
The award is valid until September 2031 and will be presented at a ceremony at Kensington Palace on 17 November.
Councillor Neil Fawcett, Deputy Leader of Oxfordshire County Council, said: “This is fantastic recognition for the Oxfordshire Museum and the team who work so hard to make heritage learning engaging, accessible and meaningful for children, young people and families.
“Learning outside the classroom can bring history and local heritage to life in a way that stays with people. We are proud that the museum’s education programme has been recognised nationally and look forward to welcoming even more schools and visitors to Woodstock.”
The Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum provided financial support for the museum’s application.
Edward Dowler, Chair of Trustees, Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum, said: “The Friends of the Oxfordshire Museum were very pleased to fund the museum’s application for the Sandford Award. We are delighted that the application was successful, further strengthening the museum’s deserved reputation for high-quality heritage education for children.”
For the award, the museum submitted an application and supporting evidence, followed by an assessor’s site visit. The assessor’s report praised the quality of its learning provision and identified priorities for future development.
The award follows the museum’s achievement of receiving the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC)’s Quality Badge earlier this year, which recognised the quality of its educational visits and risk management arrangements.
Schools interested in what is on offer can visit the museum’s website to find out more.
About the Sandford Award
The Sandford Award is the quality mark for heritage learning and validates heritage sites and services that offer a formal learning programme supporting the relevant curriculum across the home countries. Recognition is also given to informal learning, including family programmes and self-guided provision.
The scheme began in 1978 and is managed by the Heritage Education Trust in partnership with Lincoln Bishop University.
In 2026, the Heritage Education Trust announced 29 Sandford Award winners, including the Oxfordshire Museum.
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