Ufton Court

We’re thrilled to announce that Ufton Court has once again been awarded the prestigious Sandford Award for Heritage Learning! This year, our Head of Education, Kayleigh Forbes, proudly accepted the award on behalf of the team at the stunning Kensington Palace. This incredible recognition celebrates our dedication to providing immersive, curriculum-aligned learning experiences in our historic setting. The Sandford Award began in 1978 and is the quality mark for heritage learning and validation for heritage sites and services that offer a formal learning programme that supports the relevant curriculum. Since 2009, Ufton Court has been honoured to hold this gold standard for heritage learning, which highlights the power of using history, collections, and the natural environment to inspire and educate. Here's what they had to say about us: "A visit to Ufton Court is a unique experience set in a stunning landscape that invites pupils to take on the role of characters from history. Practical, exciting activities, from creating a Viking shield wall to raiding an original Tudor Manor House, make learning tangible and dynamic. Skilled staff immerse pupils in a historic narrative using drama to foster confidence and develop skills in teamwork, problem-solving and historical enquiry. The interactive workshops are developed in close collaboration with practising teachers and are highly recommended by schools for engaging pupils of all abilities. The use of artefacts, costume and buildings by experienced and enthusiastic facilitators delivers memorable and effective learning." We’re so proud of our passionate team who made this possible. Thank you to the Heritage Education Trust for this wonderful recognition, and to our visiting schools for their continued support. Here’s to making history even more dynamic and accessible for all! #SandfordAward #HeritageLearning #UftonCourt #ExperientialEducation #makinghistorymatter

We absolutely love, admire, and empathise with the incredible teachers who bring their school children to Ufton Court. 💛 Your dedication, passion, and resilience in nurturing young minds never cease to amaze us. A recent article in TES highlights the immense pressures teachers face today, juggling overwhelming workloads and the challenges of the classroom. We want to take a moment to say: we see you, we appreciate you, and we’re here to support you. At Ufton Court, we strive to be more than just a trip destination—we aim to be your partner in education. Whether it’s helping you spark curiosity through experiential learning, easing the planning burden of school trips, or creating spaces where children and teachers alike can thrive, we are with you every step of the way. Thank you for all that you do, not just for your students, but for the future. ❤️ 📖 Read the full TES article: https://lnkd.in/ecgWrTXh #ThankYouTeachers #EducationSupport #TeacherWellbeing #UftonCourt #ExperientialLearning

Congratulations to Techniquest on winning Best Venue for STEM Learning at the School Travel Awards in London for the second year in a row! We echo the comments from Rob Yandell, publisher of School Travel Organiser: “Learning is one thing, but to really experience something you need to go beyond the school gates. We know that some still see school trips as an ‘add-on’ or an end of year treat. But the appreciation and awareness of how important learning outside the classroom is, and how it can impact young people, continues to grow." Full article at: https://lnkd.in/ewEBrHXJ

I was deeply saddened to read about the theft of Thundersley Primary School and Kingston Primary School's shared minibus—a critical resource that helps so many children access opportunities beyond the classroom. 💔 School trips are more than just "days out." They’re transformative experiences where children develop independence, curiosity, and a deeper knowledge and understanding of the world around them. But as I'm quickly learning through my role at Ufton Court and education peers, the cost of hiring coaches is a major challenge for schools, often making these trips difficult—or even impossible—to organise. For a school to lose its minibus is a blow not just to their budget but to their ability to provide these life-changing experiences for children. At places like Ufton Court, we see firsthand how impactful these trips can be. We believe every child deserves the chance to flourish outside the classroom. I hope Thundersley and Kingston Primary Schools get the support they need to recover from this loss—and that this serves as a reminder of how vital it is to invest in making learning accessible for all children. #SchoolTrips #UftonCourt https://lnkd.in/e3uCfFZT

The end of another buoyant week at Ufton. We’ve welcomed so many amazing young historians for unforgettable residential trips—and wow, have they been busy! From Roman battle re-enactments and ancient games 🏹 to learning outdoor skills like fire starting, cord making, and bow and arrow crafting, these children have truly stepped back in time. They’ve even dined like Romans at a grand banquet hosted by none other than Julius Flavius himself! 🍇🕺 Oh, and let’s not forget the immersive Crime and Punishment role play—experiencing what it was like to be a Roman citizen, what it might have felt like to break the law and what would have happened to you. Definitely not as fun as spinning wool or wattling. Here at Ufton Court, we’re humbled to give children the chance to live history, not just learn about it. It’s an honour to help them create lifelong memories while they develop hands-on skills and a deeper understanding of the past. 🎞️ Check out our reel for all the action! #HistoryMadeFun #UftonCourt #RomanAdventures #OutdoorSkills #SchoolTrips #ExperientialLearning #MakingMemories

We came across the most heart-warming letter written by a child during their history residential trip at Ufton Court. This beautiful note reminds us of the magic that happens when learning comes to life, and the power of experiential, trip-based learning—where history isn’t just taught, it’s lived. These immersive experiences leave lasting impressions, and we often hear from parents and adults who fondly recall their own school trips here, even decades later. It's not just about what children learn; it's about the memories they create—moments they'll cherish for a lifetime. 💛 #UftonCourt #ExperientialLearning #MakingMemories #HistoryComesAlive #SchoolTrips #SchoolTripMemories

Congratulations to St Conval's Primary School for placing outdoor and nature-based learning at the heart of their education, and for their commitment to teaching the children the importance of caring for the planet and fostering a love of nature. 🌿 It's wonderful to see schools recognise the importance of this type of education and how it contributes to the development of practical, cooperation, communication, and teamwork skills as well as building meta-skills. Full article at: https://lnkd.in/eufXyXkD #outdoorlearning #naturebasedlearning #outdooreducation #uftoncourt

Bittersweet to read about parents having to cut back to fund school trips. While we know just how transformative trip-based learning can be—making learning fun, bringing topics to life, fostering teamwork and building confidence—we deeply empathise with families facing these tough choices. At Ufton Court, we believe every child deserves the freedom to flourish outside the classroom, no matter their circumstances. That’s why, through our charity, we subsidise history and outdoor learning trips to Ufton Court by 50% for schools in areas of deprivation. We’re here to ensure that no child misses out on the incredible benefits of experiential learning: sparking curiosity, boosting self-esteem, and creating memories that last a lifetime. As well as improving learning in the classroom, benefitting behaviour, attendance and confidence. We hope to make school trips more accessible and impactful for all. Read the full article at: https://lnkd.in/eFWF2PRk #EducationForAll #SchoolTrips #ExperientialLearning #OutdoorEducation #CharitySupport #UftonCourt #SocialImpact

Earlier last week, I had the privilege of visiting the University of Southampton to see the culmination of their Innovation Projects. These projects enabled students to tackle workplace challenges when engaging with a client, they truly showed their creativity and dedication. Hearing children's voices is at the heart of what we do at Ufton. Their perspective on how we can gather children's feedback not only shapes their own development but also helps us to improve the experiences we offer. For Ufton, this collaboration ensures we stay responsive to the needs of the children we support. For the students, it's an opportunity to make a meaningful impact while developing their skills in research, communication and innovation. A huge thank you to the students and staff at the University of Southampton for their hard work and inspiring ideas. The insights gained will be invaluable as we continue to refine and grow our approach. #Innovation #OutdoorEducation #StudentProjects #ChildrensVoices

A wintry view of our wonderful herb garden at Ufton Court, restored and renovated back in 2007 with the design inspired by a Tudor Herber! The herb garden is just one of the places where the past is brought to life for children and where experiential learning takes place on the range of curriculum-based history school trips provided here. Herbs from throughout the ages are grown in the garden, from Stone Age, Ancient Egyptian and Ancient Greek times, through to the Roman, Saxon and Tudor periods and more. The knowledge to be gained from our ancestors about the benefits of herbs and how they could be used for various conditions and ailments is truly amazing. Grateful thanks to: * Malcolm Clark for the Herber design and construction * AWRE and The Finnis Scott Foundation for the grants they awarded to Ufton * To all who have donated herbs to the garden * All the volunteers who have worked in the garden * Ufton’s Grounds team and site team #uftoncourt #historytrips #outdoorlearning #outdoorlearningspace #OutdoorLearning #experientiallearning #naturebasedlearning #outdooreducation