The award was announced last night (Wednesday 15 May), with the Horniman beating stiff competition from both national and local museums based in Northern Ireland, Norwich and London.
In partnership with local schools and teachers, the Formal Learning team at the Horniman Museum and Gardens co-developed a range of curriculum-linked workshops and targeted, tailored offers, responding to schools’ needs. The team also introduced co-production projects in collaboration with student artists, outreach, object loans, and an expanded careers offer.
A new pricing model, dedicated secondary school bursary and free ticket scheme allowed the Horniman to improve access for pupils in receipt of Pupil Premium grants.
The result was an incredible 650% increase in secondary school learners compared to pre-pandemic levels, with the percentage of non-school visits to the Museum by children aged 12-15 also doubling since the programme was introduced.
The redesign of the Secondary School Programme also addressed other Horniman objectives such as:
- the climate emergency and colonial legacies, in the content of learning sessions
- broadening access to the museum’s offer both through pricing and through creative approaches to engagement
- and working to diversify the Museum workforce, through an expanded careers and work experience offer.
This winning programme, which is user-led, has had transformative results with impressive engagement and all on a very small budget.
We are absolutely delighted to have won this award, which is as much for the incredible schools, teachers and students that we have partnered with over the last few years, as for the Horniman. It has been such a privilege for us to learn from our partners, and to build programmes in partnership.
The other organisations shortlisted for Learning Programme of the Year were:
- Brunel Museum – Mud, Flood and Fire
- National Museums NI – Museum on the Move
- Real World Science partners and the Natural History Museum – Explore: Urban Nature, UK-wide Learning Programme
- Sainsbury Centre – Art And…
