Stafford Historic Sites have been awarded the esteemed Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge for both Stafford Castle and the Ancient High House.

This national accreditation recognises excellence in both educational provision and risk management, ensuring a high standard of learning experiences beyond the classroom.

The sites are both operated by Freedom Leisure in partnership with Stafford Borough Council.

The Department for Education’s guidance on Health and Safety on Educational Visits highlights the importance of schools selecting external providers who hold the LOtC Quality Badge. As the only national award assessing both the quality of education and safety standards across all types of learning outside the classroom providers, this accreditation offers schools confidence in choosing Historic Stafford’s sites for enriching and safe educational visits.

In addition to the LOtC Quality Badge, Historic Stafford also holds the Sandford Award for educational excellence, which focuses on content quality. While the Sandford Award evaluates the depth and engagement of educational programmes, the LOtC Quality Badge assesses processes, safeguarding, and risk management, demonstrating an all-encompassing commitment to outstanding learning experiences.

Councillor Gillian Pardesi, Cabinet Member for Leisure at Stafford Borough Council, said: “I’m very pleased to see the educational programme we provide at two significant historical sites in Stafford being recognised for its quality.

“The recent Stafford History Day demonstrated how popular landmarks such as the Ancient High House and Castle are with our younger residents, and their thirst to find out more about our history, and this accreditation allows schools, and other education settings, to have confidence in the quality and safety of learning children will receive outside the traditional classroom setting.”

Tracie Wheeldon, Heritage Site Manager, expressed her enthusiasm for the recognition, stating: “We love what we do and believe passionately that education should include experiences beyond the classroom walls. Our educational days are interactive, immersive, and provide an opportunity for students to learn in a fun and engaging way, supporting retention of information once back in the school setting. There is nothing more rewarding for us than seeing children engaging with and enjoying history, knowing they are making wonderful memories.”

“We are delighted to receive the LOtC Quality Badge for Stafford Castle and the Ancient High House. As the only recognised indicator of effective risk management, this accreditation will give schools the assurance that they are engaging with both good quality and safe provision.”

This prestigious recognition cements Historic Stafford’s reputation as a leading provider of educational experiences that bring history to life while prioritising the safety and wellbeing of students.

Press Release No 6199