Today (Thursday, 12th March 2026) the shortlisted nominees have been announced for the annual Museums + Heritage Awards sponsored by Altair Media Ltd. Beamish Museum’s Learning Team has been shortlisted for their innovative work placement project for SEND and alternative provision school students.
The Learning Team has been offering work placements to young people with special educational needs and disabilities, those who attend alternative provision schools or are from disadvantaged backgrounds.
12 schools with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) requirements, alternative provision (AP) schools (for pupils who, because of exclusion, illness or other reasons, would not otherwise receive suitable education), and/or high rates of free school meals were identified and invited to be part of a pilot scheme to offer meaningful work placements to those who may otherwise miss out on such opportunities.
Thanks to funding from the North East Combined Authority, 144 young people who would not usually be presented with career enhancing opportunities attended a one-day placement at Beamish where they discovered the jobs people do at the museum and the skills required for different roles. School staff then showed how the skills that they need to do their jobs could be transferred to a range of workplaces.
Work placements present unique challenges for SEND learners and those who attend AP schools, with communication barriers, lack of tailored support, and difficulty finding suitable roles leading to lower employment outcomes for these students despite their capabilities.
On the day of the Beamish work placement, learners met with members of museum staff in various roles, learning about each job and the skills needed for each role. There was also opportunity to enjoy hands-on experiences including making bread in the bakery, helping look after the museum’s animals and interacting with the museum’s visitors in the 1950s toy shop.
Following evaluation, the pilot was seen as a success, feedback showed a satisfaction rating of 98% from the schools involved and a number of other learning providers have reached out to be included in future opportunities.
2026 will see an increase in the number of schools invited to be part of the project, from 144 in 2025 to 240 in 2026, almost doubling the number of learners who would not otherwise get such a positive experience of the working world.
The museum will continue to work closely with partners to develop this model and support North East schools. Beamish is spearheading the development of projects and practices to support North East schools and students who face additional barriers.
The Museums + Heritage Awards celebrate the very best in the world of museums, galleries, and cultural and heritage visitor attractions. This year’s shortlist, which includes entrants from all over the United Kingdom as well as museums and other cultural organisations in 10 other countries, have been chosen by an independent panel of nine judges, who are all well-known in the museum world.
The ceremony to reveal the winners will take place on Wednesday, 13th May 2026, at Hilton Park Lane, London.
