STAFF at a museum in Cirencester have been celebrating after being presented with a prestigious accolade earlier this week.

Corinium Museum - which is situated in Park Street, Cirencester - has scooped up the Heritage Education Trust's Sandford Award for excellence in heritage education for the third time.

Rebecca Shellenberger, schools and families officer, and Caroline Morris, collections and education manager, attended a special ceremony at Hampton Court Palace in London on Monday, November 6. 

The award was presented by author and joint chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces Tracy Borman.

The Heritage Education Trust, based at Bishop Grosseteste University in Lincoln, administer the award which is assessed by a visiting judge. 

Lead assessor Hannah Keddie visited Corinium Museum earlier this year and observed the school workshops, reviewed documents and inspected resources. 

Hannah stated in her report: “It is easy to see why education visitors come from a wide catchment area to visit Corinium Museum. 

"Unparalleled opportunities for students to engage with a world-class collection of prehistoric and Roman archaeology are well-developed, interactive and inspiring.

"Through real-life archaeological examples, object handling, puzzles, games, costumes and trails, students and teachers come away with an enhanced understanding of life in the past.

“Corinium Museum’s workshops programmes offer a broad range of curriculum-linked themes and topics that are firmly founded on the museum’s collections dating from the Stone Age to the 20th century.

"Resources used during the workshops observed (such as feely boxes, reconstructed burials, costumes, tombstone letter boards and games) bring Prehistory and the Roman period to life and offer an immersive experience for learners.”

David Stanley, deputy chief executive of CDC, said: “I would like to congratulate the Corinium Museum for being honoured with the Sandford Award for excellence in heritage education.

"This recognition underscores the museum's commitment to delivering high-quality educational experiences and preserving our cultural heritage."

Emma Stuart, museum director said: “The Corinium Museum team is thrilled to receive the award in recognition of the valuable education programme on offer. 

"Receiving this award is testimony to the hard work and creative thinking by the museum team.

"This accolade will hopefully encourage more school teachers to bring their children to the museum for a truly valuable learning experience.”