CHILDREN at a York primary school are celebrating the school's half century today.

Pupils, staff and governors at Our Lady's RC Primary School in Acomb are staging a day of events on Monday including a balloon release to commemorate the schools 50th birthday at 11.30am.

This will follow a mass at the school at 10am and any former pupils or teachers are invited to attend.

School governor Fiona Jefferson said that after first opening in April 1958, the early years at Our Lady's presented some challenges.

A flu epidemic, in February 1959, left approximately half the pupils off sick, with many teachers, including the headmaster, also affected.

Fifteen years later, in June 1974, the school was closed for a week, following a fire caused during a break in.

She said: "Fortunately, current events are happier, with children taking part in many different activities. Each year group will dress in a style appropriate to one of the five decades in the schools history.

"Past and present pupils are meeting to share their different experiences and an exhibition revealing the history of the school in photos is currently on show.

"With some other events planned over the next few months, this will be a memorable term at the 50 year old Our Lady's."

The school has been federated with English Martyrs RC primary in Holgate under one head teacher - Derek Sutherland.

Earlier this week, The Press reported that Our Lady's RC is expected to be involved in a £37 million shake-up for York's primary schools.

Under Government plans to create schools equipped for 21st century teaching and learning, York expects to receive up to £37 million for the period 2009-22, with around £8 million in the first four years alone.

Included in the scheme is a new school - either new-build or a major refurbishment and extension to an existing building - to enable a merger on one site of Our Lady's and English Martyrs' RC Primary, in Holgate.

Mr Sutherland said: "Since September 2006, the schools have been successfully federated and we welcome the opportunities an amalgamation will bring when it happens."


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