We are delighted to announce that the education programme at Benjamin Franklin House has been awarded a Sandford Award by the Heritage Education Trust.

The Sandford Award is the quality mark for heritage learning and validation for heritage organisations across the British Isles that offer a formal learning programme which supports the relevant curriculum.

Our provision was assessed by an expert judge who visited the House earlier this year to observe our schools programme in action and learn about our exciting range of learning opportunities including our outreach programme, family programme and extra-curricular activities.

The Sandford Award, which is valid for five years, was awarded in September 2024. This marks the fourth time that learning at Benjamin Franklin House has been recognised by the Heritage Education Trust, having also been awarded in 2009, 2014 & 2019.

As part of their assessment, each judge produces a detailed report on their findings that not only highlights the incredible work being carried out in heritage sites across the UK and Ireland but also provides valuable feedback to enable outstanding programmes to continue to grow and develop their successes. We received some wonderful comments from our judge who wrote;

“The learning programme positions the House as a window into the past and a living backdrop to not only Franklin’s many and varied interests and activities, but also to a world stage where relations between America and Great Britain are being questioned and fought over. From the minute a school arrives at the House and uses the heavy knocker to gain access, it is evident that this is not an experience that could be achieved in the classroom.” – Sandford Award Judge, 2024.

We are proud to display our award onsite and online as a marker for excellence in heritage education and encourage other historic sites to consider making an application in 2025.

You can see the full list of sites awarded in 2024 here as well as their page on Benjamin Franklin House here.