Our Sixth Form Open Evening last night was nothing short of spectacular. We were delighted to welcome an exceptional number of visitors—both from within The Blandford School community and from many neighbouring schools.

Students from The Blandford School have returned safely from an exciting and educational trip to Berlin, arriving back in the early hours of Sunday morning after several packed days exploring the German capital.

The group embraced every opportunity to discover the city’s rich history and culture, averaging an impressive 25,000 steps each day as they visited many of Berlin’s most significant landmarks. Highlights included the Berlin Wall Memorial, the Brandenburg Gate and the iconic TV Tower, where students enjoyed panoramic views across the city. They also visited the popular Ritter Sport Chocolate Museum, adding a fun and memorable stop to the itinerary.

Throughout the trip, students conducted themselves exceptionally well, consistently demonstrating our REAP values — Respect, Effort, Attitude and Perseverance. Their maturity, enthusiasm and positive attitude made them a credit to both themselves and the school.

The school would like to extend its sincere thanks to Miss Davidson, Miss Ward, Miss Maclaine, Mr Smith, Mr Fenton and Mr Vairy for their hard work in organising and leading the visit. Their dedication ensured the trip ran smoothly and provided students with an unforgettable learning experience.

The Berlin trip proved to be both enriching and enjoyable, offering students valuable insights into history, culture, and life beyond the classroom.

We’re excited to share that two Native Black Poplar saplings — one of Britain’s rarest native trees — have been planted on our school grounds near the river this week.

A huge thank you to the Blandford & Stour Rotary Club, whose initiative made this possible. After recently planting two saplings in the Stour Meadows, the Rotary Club approached us with the idea of bringing this rare species to our school, helping support the local environment and biodiversity.

Working in partnership with Trees for Wimborne, grower Niki Harper, and North Dorset Rangers Graham Stanley and Luke Cray, the Rotary Club helped secure two additional saplings for our grounds.

Native Black Poplars thrive in marshy riverbank conditions, helping prevent erosion, reducing flood risks, and providing valuable habitats for wildlife. As these saplings grow, our students will have the opportunity to track their development and study their positive impact on the riverbank ecosystem.

Here’s a wonderful insight from grower Niki Harper:

“The Native Black Poplar is Britain’s rarest large tree, growing up to 30–40 metres. There are fewer than 100 mature trees in Dorset, and none in Blandford—until now. Working together with Dorset Council, Blandford and Stour Rotary Club and Blandford School, we obtained four trees, two male and two female, to be planted in ideal locations. We now wait in anticipation for the trees to come into leaf and begin their 200-year story.”

We are incredibly grateful to the Rotary Club for their support and vision. We can’t wait to watch these amazing trees grow and inspire students for generations to come. 🌱💚