Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy celebrates 80th anniversary

Current staff and pupils at Wrockwardine Wood Arts Academy organised the event to mark the milestone.

And town MP David Wright, who left in 1983, and Joyce Rowding, who started in 1936, were two of the star guests.

The school in New Road opened in 1933 and has steadily grown in size over the years, with more than 600 pupils now on the roll.

Telford MP Mr Wright, who was born and raised in the town, said he was delighted at being invited to cut the anniversary cake.

He said: "I am so glad to be back celebrating the 80th anniversary of my school. I left in 1983 and today really has brought the memories flooding back.

"It is great to see so many people who have attended the school over the years coming back for the anniversary to share their memories."

Great-grandmother Mrs Rowding, now of Donnington, admitted Saturday had been the first time she had returned to the school since she attended there in the 1930s.

"It is the first time I have been back and I couldn't believe it. I hardly recognise the place, so much has changed," she said.

"My children and their children also attended here, so three generations of my family have passed through the doors over the years."

Widow Mrs Rowding, who has five children, 17 grandchildren and "at least as many" great-grandchildren, helped out on the Home Front in various factories during the Second World War after leaving school before going on to work as a home help.

Headteacher John Jones said it was especially important to celebrate the anniversary with the historic school buildings due to be bulldozed in the next couple of years as part of a £200 million improvement programme across the borough.

Pupils are due to move to a new site next to Oakengates Leisure Centre in a merger move with nearby Sutherland School.

In the run-up to the event on Saturday, pupils and staff launched a website and appealed for past pupils to tell them about their memories in a bid to piece together a history of the school.

Mr Jones said: "I have been absolutely delighted by the commitment of all the students, teachers, parents and governors in organising this very special event.

"Everyone who has been involved with it can feel very proud indeed and when you see how many past students have turned out to join us it makes it all worthwhile."

Music teacher Ben Millington has played a leading role in piecing together the history of the site. He said: "We would still like to appeal to people to go on to our website, sign our guestbook and tell us about their memories and share old pictures. We know about how the school started and we obviously know about the present but there are still a lot of gaps in between, particularly from the 1950s to the 1980s."

The event featured performances by the senior choir, pupil rock and pop bands and also soloists. Teacher Rob Star bravely put his head on the block by asking pupils to pay for the privilege of throwing a wet sponge at him, while there was also a variety of stalls in the school playground.

For more on the history of the school or to share memories log on to www.wrockwardinewoodartsacademy.com/80years