Penshurst Place has won a Sandford Award for heritage learning at its first try, as school visits more than doubled in 12 months. Assessors: first class.

Penshurst Place & Gardens has won a Sandford Award for Heritage Learning, the national benchmark for education at historic sites, at the first time of asking. The award comes as the number of schoolchildren visiting the estate near Tonbridge has more than doubled in the past 12 months, the house says.

The assessors watched a visit by 90 Key Stage 1 pupils and reviewed the wider programme offered to schools. Their report described the communication and administration as “first class” and the handling of the 90-pupil visit as “seamless”.

A large group of pupils in school uniform sitting on the grass in the shade of a tree in the gardens at Penshurst Place.
Pupils sitting under a tree in the gardens at Penshurst Place. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens; photographer A Cope

What the assessors saw

During the assessment, pupils explored the Toy Museum, handled objects, made a traditional Victorian thaumatrope and played with original Victorian toys. According to the house, the report found these activities let the children build on classroom learning through experiences that could not be replicated at school, and described the visit as calm, well organised and engaging.

Alison MacPhee, the Sandford Award lead assessor, said:

“Penshurst Place, former hunting lodge of Henry VIII, is a Tudor gem in the Garden of England. Both the house and grounds are truly exceptional and beautiful.

“The facilitated sessions allow pupils not only to be immersed in Tudor England, but also to extend their understanding to the 21st century through sessions which chart developments to present day, for example in the newly imagined and renovated Victorian Toy Museum.

“The team are exceptional in their professionalism and commitment. A diverse team in both age, experience and skills means that it is well-rounded, clearly going from strength to strength and showing obvious enjoyment in what they do.”

Young pupils around a wooden table reaching for a toy tea set during a workshop.
Pupils playing with a toy tea set at a workshop table. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A session leader stands at the front of a hall with leaded windows, holding up a toy, as pupils with backpacks and high-visibility vests sit and watch.
A toy workshop under way in a hall at Penshurst Place. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A session leader holds up a teddy bear in front of seated pupils wearing high-visibility vests.
A session leader shows a teddy bear to a visiting class. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens

A teacher who brought a class from Ightham Primary School said:

“The Toys in the Past workshop is pitched beautifully for the Year 1s and the hands-on experiences provide fun and engaging activities to help the children learn.”

Facts panel on Penshurst Place's Sandford Award: school visits more than doubled in the past 12 months; 90 Key Stage 1 pupils on the visit the assessors observed; the first time Penshurst Place has applied; award status valid for five years, presented at Kensington Palace on 17 November 2026.
Graphic by Tonbridge Today. Source: Penshurst Place & Gardens, 7 October 2026.
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“The first time we’ve applied”

Nicky Stitchman, Head of Visitors and Collections at Penshurst Place, said:

“We’re absolutely delighted to receive the Sandford Award, particularly as this is the first time we’ve applied.

“School visits have doubled in the past year, and it’s been fantastic to see so many young people discovering Penshurst through hands-on experiences that bring history to life. It’s wonderful recognition of the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in delivering our education programme. We’re looking forward to building on this success and continuing to develop new and engaging learning experiences to inspire even more young people in the years ahead.”

Penshurst will be formally presented with the award at the annual ceremony at the Clore Learning Centre, Kensington Palace, on Tuesday 17 November 2026.

Pupils' hands at a table building a small cardboard theatre, with craft materials around them.
Pupils building their own toy theatres at a workshop. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A cardboard toy theatre with paper curtains on a table, as pupils colour in designs beside it.
A toy theatre taking shape, with designs being coloured in alongside. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A finished cardboard toy theatre with red paper curtains and hand-drawn paper figures in ballgowns on its stage.
A finished toy theatre made by a student. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens

What schools can book

The programme was developed with teachers and offers curriculum-linked workshops for children aged 4 to 16, according to Penshurst Place.

  • Primary pupils start from historic toys and artefacts, exploring change over time, materials and manufacturing. Sessions combine object handling, craft activities, guided play and time in the Toy Museum galleries.
  • Secondary students take English and Drama workshops drawn from the house’s literary and theatrical heritage, including its links with the Elizabethan poet and courtier Sir Philip Sidney. They design Victorian-style toy theatres and develop short performances inspired by traditional stories.
  • A Level and university students can take tours covering subjects such as Creative Writing, English Literature and History.

The house says the award also recognises learning beyond formal school visits: self-led activities, accessible provision, and ways for families and community groups to use the house, collections and grounds.

Pupils in school uniform sit on the lawn beside a tall clipped hedge, facing a person standing in front of them.
Pupils gathered on the lawn beside a hedge in the gardens. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens; photographer A Cope
A hand holds a doll in a dark dress with a red and white checked apron upright on a wooden table.
A doll being handled at a workshop table. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A boy writes on a worksheet in front of a tall glass display case of dolls and teddy bears in the Toy Museum.
A pupil filling in a worksheet beside the doll and teddy bear cases in the Toy Museum. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A boy looks into a wooden display case with a sign reading Drinking Bear, against a brick wall.
A pupil at the Drinking Bear display in the Toy Museum. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
A boy in a blue fleece leans in to look closely at an exhibit beside a brick wall.
A pupil looking closely at an exhibit. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens
An ornate antique toy theatre with painted scenery, curtains and rows of paper figures on its stage.
A toy theatre on display in the Toy Museum. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens

About the Sandford Award

The Sandford Award was established in 1978 and gives independent, expert-led assessment of learning programmes at heritage sites. Award status lasts for five years. It is run by the Heritage Education Trust in partnership with Lincoln Bishop University.

What it means for you

If you teach in Tonbridge, Penshurst or the villages around, Penshurst Place’s school workshops now carry an independent quality mark for the next five years, and they cover children from age 4 to 16, with tours for A Level and university students. Details are on the Penshurst Place website. With visits doubling, it would be wise to ask about dates early.

The south front of Penshurst Place, a long stone house with towers and battlements, seen across a formal garden with a round pond.
The south front of Penshurst Place across the formal garden. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens; photographer Peter Smith, Jigsaw
An aerial view of Penshurst Place, its walled formal gardens laid out in squares, and the parkland beyond.
Penshurst Place and its gardens from the air. Photo: supplied by Penshurst Place & Gardens; photographer Ollie Dixon