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The National Archives' education service has achieved the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality (LOtCQ) Badge for the second time in succession, recognising the consistently high-quality education standards it provides to students and teachers.  

The award

Launched in 2009, the LOtCQ badge is a national initiative designed to ensure young people are given the opportunity to experience quality school activities outside the classroom as part of the curriculum.

As holders of the Quality Badge, schools have an assurance that the Education department at The National Archives has met and maintained the high standards set by the Learning Outside the Classroom council in providing a high-quality learning experience.

To achieve and retain this award, The National Archives demonstrated it provided clear pre-visit information to schools, ensuring that all of the sessions delivered met learners' needs, and that it is continuously reviewing and evaluating sessions offered.
 
Andrew Payne, Head of Education and Outreach said: 'Receiving our second Quality Badge Award highlights the continuing excellence of our education services for schools and shows the valuable contribution which The National Archives makes to our children's cultural learning.'

Learning outside the classroom

The Education team has a purpose-built classroom with workshops that cover all the range of key stages, and visiting students have the opportunity to work directly with primary source material. Pupils are given hands-on experience and greater insight into the historical events they are studying by using role play, investigative devices and scripts.

The Education team also caters to schools that are unable to visit Kew through the use of virtual classrooms and interactive video conferences, which enable students to join them online, ask questions and discuss topics. The team provides podcasts featuring lectures from top academics which are available for download. The podcasts include radio-style historical investigations using primary documents from the Archives and are read by actors.

Read more about the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge at www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk