Sandford Award assessment process

To achieve the rigorous assessment criteria, organisations must demonstrate the delivery of high-quality heritage learning.

When you submit an application for a Sandford Award it is screened to ensure it meets the award criteria on paper. Once the entry period closes, your application is allocated to a volunteer assessor who will email a standard Letter of Introduction and agree dates for the assessment visit. They will also advise the applicant what they need to send to them in advance. This will include an itinerary for the day, details of the schools they will shadow as well as the booking procedure, risk assessments and documents such as a Learning Forward Plan and other key staff they can meet and talk with. The letter also reminds the applicant to have available on the day, documents such as the site’s Public Liability Insurance and the policies outlined in the criteria. At the end of their visit, the assessor will lead a plenary session for your staff and/or volunteers, during which they can cover any remaining questions or queries on both sides.

Assessment visits usually take place from March and continue until mid-July. If required, it may be possible to arrange the visit outside the normal assessment period. Each site is assessed by one volunteer assessor or in some cases, two assessors. If there are two, they will assess the learning service together.

Following the assessment visit, the assessor will compile their report and submit it for review and moderation, making their recommendation to the Board of Trustees of the Heritage Education Trust. Members will make the final decision at the Trustees’ Ratification Meeting - held in the early part of September. Following the meeting, applicants are notified of the outcome with a copy of the assessor’s report.  Winners of the Sandford Award are invited to attend the annual presentation ceremony in the year of application. You can find the Sandford Award Eligibility Criteria, our Guidance for Applicants and other useful information below.

Banner image: English Heritage Education, Sandford Award holder