On the Day

The children from Springfield School are pictured here in Great Court with Lord and Lady Blandford. 

During their visit the children were fascinated by the ancient oaks in the Park and the shapes of other trees they saw in the gardens. Back at school created a wonderful textured tree.  This was based on a tree which had shed its seeds and there were so many seeds that it looked like snow on the ground.

 When the children from Kingfisher School visited the Palace they really enjoyed the colours and shapes in the State Rooms but loved the Pleasure Gardens best of all. Back at school they created a collage showing the train, the maze and adventure playground. The children are shown here next to their work on display in the Education Room.

Bladon Primary School took part in the One Oak Project which was created by the Slyva Foundation and run in partnership with Blenheim Palace. This project involved 5 schools from Oxfordshire and its purpose was to teach the children why it is important to grow and harvest wood in a sustainable manner. On an exceptionally cold and snowy day in January the schools trekked into one of the woods on the Estate. There they watched one of our Foresters fell an enormous oak tree aged approx. 165 years old. It came down with a mighty crash, much to the delight of the watching children and staff.  The children then visited the wood yard 'Deep in Wood' to see how the tree had been cut into lengths and left to dry. Later this year the carpenters at Combe Mill will show the children how to turn small pieces of wood and make toys like spinning tops. Three of the children who took part in the project are shown here in front of some of the work the class did as part of the One Oak Project. With this work the children also won the 2010 School's Award from the Royal Forestry Society.

The prize winner from Lady Barn House School pictured with Lord and Lady Blandford. 

History is a very popular topic of study for groups visiting the Palace, especially life in Victorian times or the impact of the Second World War. This prize winner had produced an excellent project on the Dukes and Duchesses of Marlborough.

 The Palace provides inspiration for all kinds of art work. The butterflies in the Butterfly House are very useful for pattern and colour work. Some schools study the shapes and swirls on the fabric in the State Rooms. Others come to study the portraits and the pupil from Madley Brook Primary School in Witney painted an excellent picture of the First Duke.  He is shown here with Lord and Lady Blandford.  Other prize winners for art came from Millbrook Primary School in Wantage, Applecroft Primary School in Welwyn Garden City and from the local Marlborough School.

When Woodstock Primary School visited the Palace the pupils were set the task of producing a marketing leaflet aimed at young children. Their work was particularly interesting to the Palace marketing team! Here their prize winner stands in front of her excellent leaflet. A group from the local secondary school, the Marlborough School, were also tasked with creating marketing leaflets but this time for adults. Their IT skills were used very effectively and they were therefore awarded a prize.

Prize Giving Tea 2009

Each year after the ceremony all the prize winners have afternoon tea with the Duke or as in 2010, with Lord and Lady Blandford. This is usually the best part of the day according to the children. Apparently this year the chocolate brownies were particularly good!