One Year of the Sandford Award
It’s been one year since we shared the exciting news that Butser Ancient Farm won the prestigious Sandford Award! This is the ultimate gold star in heritage education, recognising heritage sites that deliver outstanding learning experiences. Think of it as the Ofsted for museums and historic sites like ours, where the judges are looking to celebrate exceptional school trips and educational offerings that support schools and the National Curriculum. One year on, we are still so proud of our team and everything we have built at the farm, which continues to improve and blossom every year.
In case you missed it, here is what the judges said about the farm when they presented the award last year:
‘Schools visiting Butser Ancient Farm can expect an exciting and memorable experience packed with hands-on activities in immersive spaces. Pupils will leave with deeper knowledge and historical understanding, curious to know more and pleased with the results of their efforts, whether twisting bronze for jewellery or building a wattle fence. The beautiful landscape and impressive reconstructed houses provide a wonderful setting for exploring local heritage guided by passionate and knowledgeable staff.’
We are so thankful to the judges for their kind words, and incredibly proud of our education team for receiving such glowing praise. For over 50 years, we have been dedicated to bringing the ancient past to life, driving forward our research and spurring us to share it with our visitors.
Our educational programme is a real labour of love. We’ve designed it to inspire curiosity, creativity and teamwork, while also ticking all the National Curriculum boxes for schools. Our trips are hands-on and experiential, covering not just history but also art, design and technology, science, maths and more. The programme has evolved and developed so much over the years (and is continuing to do so!) and we’re so grateful to see our hard work validated through this award. Simon Jay, our Director, summed it up perfectly:
‘We’re thrilled to receive the Sandford Award, which is a testament to the hard work and passion of our team. At Butser, we strive to connect people with the ancient past in meaningful and inspiring ways. This award not only celebrates the impact of our educational programme but also helps us to continue expanding and enriching our offerings for schools and visitors alike.’
And we’re not stopping here! We’ve got big plans to make our workshops and activities even more immersive, with exciting new ways to explore history hands-on. Whether you’re a school group or a curious visitor, there’s always something fresh to discover at Butser.
We are now gearing up for our 2026 programme so you can come and see for yourself why the judges were so impressed. We can’t wait to welcome you, and who knows – you might leave with a new skill or two! Here’s to celebrating history, hands-on learning, and this incredible recognition. Thank you to everyone for supporting us and being part of the Butser story!
Check out our School Trips for an immersive, hands-on experience they will never forget!
