Press Releases

Following a rigorous inspection this summer, it has now been confirmed that the Museum has successfully achieved the Sandford Award for Heritage Education - one of the highest and most respected education accolades a museum can gain.

The awards are given in recognition of the quality of educational services and entrants are assessed by a panel of independent judges.

Speaking about the news, Head of the Museum, Steph Mastoris, said: “This is a marvellous achievement by the learning team and further recognition of the super work that we have been developing since we opened.”

Rosalyn Gee, the Museum’s Learning Manager, said: “During this year alone we have welcomed more than 13,300 school children and teachers to the Museum. We understand the important and unique role museums can play in supporting learning and are delighted that we’re able to deliver this at such a high level. The award plays testament to the team’s hard work, especially Formal Education Officer, Mandy Westcott. We’re now looking forward to building further links with schools in south Wales even further a field.”

Ceri Black, Head of Learning, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, said: “We work closely with teachers and their pupils to ensure our programmes reflect their needs, the changing curriculum and the new emphasis on skills. We are very proud to have received this award, which acknowledges the commitment to learning by the staff of the National Waterfront Museum. “

The National Waterfront Museum now joins other members of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales’s family including Big Pit: National Coal Museum, the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, the National Wool Museum in Dre-fach and National Museum Cardiff as achievers of the award.

ENDS

For more information about the Sandford Award visit http://www.heritageeducationtrust.org.uk/het_ssi/awards.shtml

For more information, please contact Marie Szymonski, Marketing Communications Officer on (01792) 638970.

The figure for school visits is from January to mid-November 2009.

Admission to Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales museums is free thanks to the support of the Welsh Assembly Government.

Amgueddfa Cymru operates seven national museums across Wales. These are National Museum Cardiff, St Fagans: National History Museum, the National Roman Legion Museum, Caerleon, Big Pit: National Coal Museum, Blaenafon, the National Wool Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, the National Slate Museum, Llanberis and the National Waterfront Museum, Swansea.