WEALD & DOWNLAND OPEN AIR MUSEUM AWARDED LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM QUALITY BADGE
 

The Weald & Downland Open Air Museum at Singleton, near Chichester is one of the first organisations in the country to be awarded the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, recognising it as a provider of high quality, safely managed educational experiences for young people. The Quality Badge is a brand new scheme, combining for the first time learning and safety into one easily recognisable badge for all organisations providing learning outside experiences.

Rachel Mercer, School Services Manager at the Museum said “I am immensely proud of the Weald & Downland being awarded the Quality Badge. It is a real stamp of approval that the activities we offer young people are recognised as being of high quality. We have always worked closely with local schools and youth groups to provide quality learning in a safe environment. We know that children really benefit from these important experiences and it’s great to have all our hard work recognised in this way.”

The Quality Badge was developed as part of the Learning Outside the Classroom Manifesto, a national initiative to ensure young people are given more opportunities to have these experiences as part of the curriculum. The Quality Badge scheme is part of the Government’s £4.5m Out and About package which, in addition to the badges, provides guidance and information to teachers on how to plan and organise high quality activities. The badge is designed to make it easier for teachers to identify providers of quality educational visits. Organisations will display the badge to show schools that their venue has met required standards.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, said: “Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life. Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.”

“It is a significant victory in our battle to move away from the misguided perception that learning outside the classroom is a potential minefield for teachers. I want to see teachers using Quality Badges as practical decision-making tool. It should ensure that many more young people have memorable, exciting and valuable learning outside the classroom experiences. I congratulate the Weald & Downland Museum on being awarded the badge.”

The Quality Badge is available to large and small organisations providing quality Learning Outside the Classroom experiences and managing risk effectively. Organisations already awarded the badge include museums, adventurous activity and field study centres, places of worship, art galleries, visitor attractions and farms, with many more starting to apply. The Quality Badge was developed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and Badges are awarded by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. For more information about the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge, please visit www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The award-winning Weald & Downland Open Air Museum has over 45 historic building exhibits and is designated by the Government for the outstanding importance of its collections. Exhibits include a medieval farmstead; a working watermill producing wholemeal stoneground flour; exhibitions focusing on traditional building techniques and agriculture; historic gardens, farm livestock and a working Tudor kitchen. The Museum runs a well-established programme of courses in building conservation and rural crafts.  There is a café which uses the Museum’s own flour and a shop with gifts and books on countryside and buildings themes.  The modern Downland Gridshell houses the Museum’s building conservation centre and artefact collection. There is a daily tour at 1.30pm when the Museum is open, and an appointments system for visits to the collections for research purposes.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Reporters and photographers are welcome at the Museum. For further information call the Museum information line on 01243 811348 or contact Cathy Clark, Marketing Officer

Tel: 01243 811014.
Fax: 01243 811475
Email: marketing@wealddown.co.uk.

Full details about the Museum and its activities can be found at www.wealddown.co.uk 

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