THE Black Country Living Museum has received a prestigious award for its onsite educational programmes and activities.

Recognising educational excellence, the Sandford Award looks at both formal and informal learning programmes to assess the impact on all visitors.

Approximately 270,000 people visit the open-air museum each year to learn about one of the world’s first industrial landscapes and the ways in which it led to a turning point in Britain’s national story.

Central to the visitor experience is the opportunity to engage with the stories the museum tells, through various forms of interpretation; however additional programmes organised by the museum, such as its heritage skills workshops and poetry evenings, allow visitors to further deepen their understanding of the global significance of the Black Country.

Around a quarter of the museum’s visitors are school groups since the museum caters for all key stages, providing a rich learning environment as well as a wealth of engaging, curriculum-linked workshops and activities.

Mel Weatherly, head of learning, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have won this award. We strive to provide engaging learning experiences of the highest quality and historical authenticity for all our visitors, so it is fantastic to have this recognised.

"The award is a credit to the hard work and expertise of all our staff and volunteers.”