THE efforts of a North Yorkshire museum to provide top flight educational visits for the region’s schoolchildren has seen it recognised with a Government award.

The Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington has received a Learning Outside The Classroom Quality Badge, an award which is intended to provide teachers with an assurance of the quality of education on offer.

Ian Reed, museum director, said: “Being awarded the Quality Badge is a real coup for all the staff here as it shows that we offer young people the type of high quality learning experiences they really benefit from.

“We are thrilled to get official recognition for our efforts and we look forward to welcoming even more children and young people from the local area to our fascinating museum, which offers a safe and secure learning environment within an historic setting.”

Awarded by the Council For Learning Outside The Classroom, the Quality Badge combines learning and safety into a recognisable badge for all organisations which provide learning outside the classroom.

The scheme is part of the Government’s £4.5 million Out And About initiative which, along with the badges, is intended to provide guidance and information for teachers on how to plan and organise activities. Organisations like the air museum display the badge as a signal to schools that their venue has met required standards, so teachers do not need to carry out their own risk or quality assessments.

Ed Balls, Secretary of State Children, Schools and Families, said: “Educational visits are among the most memorable experiences in a child’s school life. “Quality Badges offer teachers a guarantee that not only is a venue providing the sort of educational value that they can build on in class long after the visit, but they also have the appropriate risk management structures in place.”