School to mark 150 years

Staff and pupils at Colgate Primary School, in Blackhouse Road, will be embracing all things Victorian during a week of celebrations in July.

To help bring the history of the school alive, headteacher Kate Powell has called on former pupils, who attended between the Second World War and the 1970s, to get in touch.

Mrs Powell said: “For a school to celebrate 150 years is quite unusual and it’s important to know where we have come from and to celebrate it for the community, not just the school.”

The school boasts a board bearing the names of all the headteachers dating back to the 1800s and Mrs Powell said she was proud to see her name added to that list.

As part of the celebrations, staff and children will don Victorian dress and the school day will be run as it would have been more than 100 years ago.

Mrs Powell said: “We’re coming off our normal timetable and the children can learn about Colgate, the school and the Victorian era.”

One thing she had no intention of resurrecting, though, was the discipline of the day.

While researching Colgate Primary’s history, Mrs Powell came across a ledger kept by some of the heads which detailed school life, including the punishments inflicted on the children for a range of wrong-doings.

She said the current crop of children found it all fascinating – but writing lines would be as far as any discipline would go!

The week of celebrations will run from Monday July 13 to Friday July 17 and will include a tea party for invited guests, including Liz Kitchen, district councillor for Colgate, and past pupils.

Mrs Powell added: “We’re hoping past pupils will be able to come and join us. If they have any memories or photos, they can email the school office or give us a call.

“We’re also hoping to have some key people from the village who came here and are now in their 70s and 80s.”

Any former pupils who attended Colgate between the Second World War and the 1970s can contact 01293 851254 or email [email protected] .

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