BLENHEIM Palace near Woodstock is making more than 800 free annual passes available to local school pupils and their families as part of its Associate Schools Scheme.

The scheme, which includes 25 nursery, primary and secondary schools, aims to provide increased support to local schools.

Oxford Mail:

A total of 814 passes have been made available so far; 380 to families with secondary aged children and 434 to those with primary aged children.

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The scheme takes in schools from the Woodstock Partnership, Eynsham Partnership and Kidlington Partnership.

Alice Kirk, head of education at Blenheim Palace, said: "This Associate Schools Scheme is a fantastic way for us to engage our local schools and the communities they serve, supporting their learning and allowing them to benefit from everything Blenheim Palace and the wider Estate has to offer.

“We’re absolutely committed to working with the local community to make both the Palace and the wider Estate accessible to as many people as possible.

The palace welcomes 30,000 students every year.