Manchester’s National Football Museum has been presented with a Sandford Award, recognising the museum’s contribution to education.
The coveted award, given to the museum’s education team, celebrates the best in heritage education. The National Football Museum is the only Manchester-based venue to receive the award this year.
Awards judges commended the museum’s team for its excellent practice in enabling the handling and interrogation of football-related items from the 1950s and 1960s. The panel also noted that pupils developed a willingness to talk and offer ideas throughout the exercises, crediting the activity for being very well planned, delivered and focused.
The museum’s collection of football memorabilia is displayed with education in mind, taking into account the age, interests and educational needs of visiting schools and college groups. Exhibits are planned in a way that best suits their learning requirements.
Christian Allen, People and Communities Officer at the National Football Museum said: “We’re delighted to have won this award for the museum’s contribution to education in Manchester. The museum has aims to educate and inspire through its main galleries and exhibitions, using the hook of football to bring cross curricular learning to life. We’re grateful and excited to have gained national recognition among the heritage sector for our learning programmes.”
The 2017 awards ceremony was held at the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms, Bath on 21 November.
The museum will join 36 other museums, heritage sites and collections across Britain, including Blenhelm Palace, Coventry Castle, and Jane Austen’s House Museum at the awards ceremony taking place at the end of the month.
Images credited to: Chris Vaughan Photography
