Marsh Baldon CofE Primary School

In Marsh Baldon, there has been a school for more than 200 years. Elizabeth Lane of Baldon House specified in her will in 1771 that a school be established for "six wretched boys and six miserable girls." The original building was replaced with a new school in 1873, and the infant room was expanded and a staff room was erected in 1953. A third classroom, the Elizabeth Lane Room, was constructed in 1991 with funding from the Elizabeth Lane School Foundation, which was established after the sale of the original School House. The Foundation continues to support the school's initiatives and is able to help with the educational requirements of certain kids. For our youngest children, we created a new outdoor play and learning area in the front garden in 2002. A playing area behind the school was enclosed in 2004 to give all students a secure setting for outdoor recreation and athletic competition. To connect the school's two buildings and add much-needed office and library space, new construction work was done. Sadly, a fire severely damaged much of the old school early in 2005, right after the construction was finished. Lessons were temporarily held first at the Global Retreat Centre at Nuneham Courtenay and then in PortaKabins in the new playing field, while the school was rebuilt. The renovation enabled structural upgrades to be made to the buildings and sparked plans to construct a hall, which became operational in September 2008. The new hall made it possible for a variety of activities that were previously impossible, including the on-site preparation of school meals. The community and its surroundings offer a wide range of resources for educational activity. Marsh Baldon School has remained an integral component of the neighbourhood throughout its lengthy history.