Penshurst Place education programme recognised with prestigious Sandford Award

Penshurst Place & Gardens has received a prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Learning, recognising the quality of its growing education programme and the work of the team in bringing more than 670 years of history to life for visiting schoolchildren and young people.

The national award follows an in-depth assessment of Penshurst’s learning provision, including observation of a visit by 90 Key Stage 1 pupils and a review of the wider programme available to schools and education establishments.

It is the first time Penshurst Place has applied for the Sandford Award and comes as demand for its education programme continues to grow, with the number of schoolchildren visiting the historic Kent estate more than doubling during the past 12 months.

Penshurst’s curriculum-linked programme uses the historic house, gardens and collections to give pupils opportunities to learn through exploration, object handling, making and performance. Sessions range from hands-on learning in the recently reimagined Victorian Toy Museum and workshops exploring Penshurst’s literary heritage and its connections with Elizabethan poet and courtier Sir Philip Sidney to Toy Theatre workshops for older students.

During the Sandford Award assessment, pupils were observed exploring the Toy Museum, handling objects, making a traditional Victorian thaumatrope and playing with original Victorian toys. The report highlighted how these activities enabled children to build on classroom learning through experiences that could not be replicated at school, while describing the management of the visit as calm, well organised and engaging. The assessors also praised the organisation of the programme and the team behind it, describing communication and administration as “first class” and the management of a 90-pupil school visit as “seamless”.

Sandford Award lead assessor, Alison MacPhee, said:

“Penshurst Place, former hunting lodge of Henry VIII, is a Tudor gem in the Garden of England. Both the house and grounds are truly exceptional and beautiful.

“The facilitated sessions allow pupils not only to be immersed in Tudor England, but also to extend their understanding to the 21st century through sessions which chart developments to present day, for example in the newly imagined and renovated Victorian Toy Museum.

“The team are exceptional in their professionalism and commitment. A diverse team in both age, experience and skills means that it is well-rounded, clearly going from strength to strength and showing obvious enjoyment in what they do.”

Nicky Stitchman, Head of Visitors and Collections, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the Sandford Award, particularly as this is the first time we’ve applied.

“School visits have doubled in the past year, and it’s been fantastic to see so many young people discovering Penshurst through hands-on experiences that bring history to life. It’s wonderful recognition of the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in delivering our education programme. We’re looking forward to building on this success and continuing to develop new and engaging learning experiences to inspire even more young people in the years ahead.”

A teacher who visited with her class from Ightham Primary School said:

“The Toys in the Past workshop is pitched beautifully for the Year 1s and the hands-on experiences provide fun and engaging activities to help the children learn.”

The Sandford Award is one of the most established benchmarks for high-quality heritage learning. Established in 1978, it provides independent, expert-led assessment of learning programmes at heritage organisations and recognises sites providing engaging, inspiring and well-organised educational experiences. Award status is valid for five years. The award is administered by the Heritage Education Trust in partnership with Lincoln Bishop University.

Penshurst will formally receive its Sandford Award at the annual presentation ceremony at the Clore Learning Centre, Kensington Palace, on Tuesday 17 November 2026.

The award also recognises the breadth of learning at Penshurst beyond formal school visits, with self-led activities, accessible provision and opportunities for families and community groups to engage with the house, collections and grounds.