Pupils from an independent Harrogate prep school have proved their needlecraft skills are some of the best in the world after taking the top title at the 2015 Festival of Quilts.
It is the third year running that children from Belmont Grosvenor School have entered the international competition to find the best quilts from across the UK and beyond.
After being awarded ‘highly-commended’ in the first year of entering, the Year 5 and Year 6 pupils at the ‘outstanding’ prep school took Second Prize last year.
But the pupils are celebrating after taking First Prize in the Primary School section of the competition.
The 2015 Festival of Quilts was held at the NEC in Birmingham – and Year 5 teacher Gillian Furniss was at the event to hear the news and pick up the prize on her pupils’ behalf.
Children at the co-educational school, based in 20 acres of grounds just three miles from Harrogate, spent months creating the ‘Patchwork Magic’ quilt, using colourful fabrics and thread.
Mrs Furniss said:
All the boys and girls in Years 5 and 6 worked hard to complete the quilt – and learned a great deal about textiles in the process as well learning a host of new sewing skills and terminology.
I feel incredibly proud of them all to have done so well in an international competition such as this.
The quilt is hanging up in one of the dining rooms at the school, based at Swarcliffe Hall, Birstwith, near Harrogate – alongside Belmont Grosvenor’s previous two entries.
Youngsters at the co-educational prep school enjoy a wide range of extra-curricular clubs and activities – as well as needlecraft, children can join a rock band, play lego, bake as well as dance, sing and act.
