River & Rowing Museum Wins National Education Award
- Museum's Education Excellence Recognised -

19 November 2007: The River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames (www.rrm.co.uk) was awarded The Sandford Award For Heritage Education, one of the highest and most respected education accolades a museum can win, at a VIP awards ceremony last Monday.

The prestigious Sandford Award For Heritage Education was awarded to the Museum in recognition of its 'excellent education services and outstanding contribution to heritage education'. [Full citation below]. Every year over 15,500 children and teachers from across the South West use the Arbib Education Centre at the Museum. They use the Museum's galleries, riverbank and natural habitats to explore and learn in a safe and controlled environment that directly benefits their school based learning.

Carole Souter, Director, The Heritage Lottery Fund, presented Valerie Wardlaw, Head of Education, River & Rowing Museum with the Award at the ceremony held at the Royal Air Force Museum, Shropshire.

Gareth Fitzpatrick, CEO, Heritage Education Trust, said: "The River & Rowing Museum impressed the Award Judges with its ability to inspire and inform children of all ages. The Museum's wide range of stimulating courses and special events provide students and visitors with superb opportunities to learn about river ecology, conservation and geology as well as the sport of rowing, art and literature."

Valerie Wardlaw, Head of Education, River & Rowing Museum said: "We provide learning activities for children that have been developed in partnership with teachers. Our riverside location provides excellent opportunities for outside learning and chimes with our mission to educate, inform and inspire everyone about rivers, the sport of rowing and our cultural heritage. We hope the Award encourages more schools and families to visit."

"The Award is a testament to the team's hard work over ten years and the wonderful teachers we work with. We are very grateful to the Heritage Lottery Fund and others, especially the Arbib Foundation for their funding support in developing and running the Arbib Education Centre at the Museum."

The River & Rowing Museum, an independent museum and registered charity, extended its education facility in 2006 with a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and matched funding from the Museum's 'Splash Ball' and the Arbib Foundation. The Centre provides modern and multifunctional spaces for the Museum's education activities for both adults and children.

The Centre has proved hugely popular with teachers from The Thames Valley and London:

About the Awards
The Sandford Awards for Heritage Education are given in recognition of the quality of educational services and facilities and outstanding contribution to heritage education. The awards have been given annually since 1978 by the Heritage Education Trust, an independent charity. Assessment against the criteria is made through a visit by a member of the Judges' Panel to see the site in action with a visiting school group. Consistency is maintained through monitoring of standards of The Judges' Panel and continuing evaluation

The River & Rowing Museum is open daily from 1000 - 1700hrs. Full details of current exhibitions and events can be found at www.rrm.co.uk or 01491 415600.

Full Citation
The Sandford Award For Heritage Education to The River & Rowing Museum Citation:

"Inspiration and information is presented at The River & Rowing Museum through a range of stimulating courses and special events designed to support learning at school or college. The well-resourced service has been developed by enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers. Visiting students benefit from opportunities to observe the river, handle equipment, or learn about geological processes through practical workshops. Appreciation of the collections aids understanding about issues such as conservation, and further illustrates river based sport and leisure activities or the art and literature inspired by the Thames."

END

Notes to Editors and Public Information
The River & Rowing Museum attracts over 90,000 visitors a year and celebrates three themes:

 The past, present and future of the River Thames;
 The historic riverside community of Henley on Thames;
 The international sport of rowing.

These themes are explored through a wide variety of exhibitions and events across four galleries and special exhibitions. One the Museum's major success has been The Wind in the Willows exhibition which recreates the timeless E H Shepard illustrations from Kenneth Grahame's famous novel.

Since opening in August 1998 the Museum has received numerous awards for its design and architecture, including the National Heritage/NPI Museum of the Year award. The River & Rowing Museum is part of the Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG) Family Friendly initiative - a scheme which brings together 29 museums across Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire, to promote their popular appeal to the whole family

	Address The River & Rowing Museum, Mills Meadows, Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1BF. Tel. 01491 415600. Web: www.rrm.co.uk
	The museum, terrace café and shop is open every day from 10am - 5.30pm in summer and 10am - 5pm in the winter
	Paid for tickets are valid for re-entry to the museum for 12 months
	Admission for The Wind in the Willows including the Galleries: £7 for adults, £5 for children and £6 for senior citizens and concessions
	Admission for the Museum Galleries: £3.50 for adults, £2.50 for children and £3 for senior citizens and concessions
	Free parking for visitors

END TO ALL