A SCHOOL has been celebrating its 50th anniversary by recording its own history.

Kingsleigh Primary School in Bournemouth is marking a half-century since it opened as Kingsleigh Junior. 

It has been working with history students from Bournemouth University to put together an archive including photographs and soundbites from people who went to the school.

A year four assembly on Friday saw pupils looking at how the school has changed since 1969, before pupils and parents went outside to form a giant figure 50 to be photographed from a drone. 

A display of photographs and other memorabilia formed a trail leading back to the classrooms.

History students Jimmie Lydon, Elena Bailey, Glenn Ford and Ollie Dickin have six months archiving photographs from the school and talking to ex-pupils in order to document how the school has changed. 

The project will be part of their final year degree course. 

Jimmie said: “It has been a great project to work on and something really different. We have really enjoyed working with the Kingsleigh pupils and hope everyone at the school and the wider community will find our results fascinating.” 

The students have also developed an online archive that pupils and parents will be able to access later in the year.
Kingseigh Primary School has changed significantly over 50 years, not least with the addition of more buildings. 

Natalie Collinson (nee Dalton) was a pupil from 1985 to 1987, and her overriding memory of the school was how much smaller it was.

She said: “The new buildings have made such a significant difference, and can offer pupils so much more. My daughter Lauren is currently at the school, and my son has just left, and the number of extra activities that are on offer to the kids is great.

"We love this school and it is brilliant to see how it has developed over the years.”

Ex-pupil Mandy Newton, who now works herself at Kingsleigh, said: “There used to be a huge mound of earth with a tunnel underneath and climbing frame over the top in the playground.

"Also, we had wooden desks and used to get told off if we dropped our pencils because of the lead. It’s all a lot different nowadays but it’s still a great school.”

Headteacher Richard Gower said: ”The whole week has been so hectic leading up to the year four assembly, but I am thrilled with the final results. 

“We have been planning this for over six months, and the university students have been great to work with, and I think their results speak for themselves.

"The school won’t stop developing as we strive every day to make it better, and I for one am excited to see what the next 50 years will bring.”