PUPILS and staff past and present helped Lakeside Primary School celebrate its twentieth birthday.

The school, in Clifton Moor, invited the class of 1991 and their teachers to return to Lakeside for a celebration afternoon tea on Friday where they met current pupils, viewed a display about the school’s history and saw how the school has grown over the years.

Head teacher Ros Latham, who has been at Lakeside for 15 years, said: “When the first pupils started at Lakeside there were only 94 of them. As the community of Clifton Moor has grown, so has our school and we now have 320 pupils, but the school has kept its sense of family.”

In preparation for their school’s birthday, every pupil at Lakeside has been involved in designing, making and painting clay tiles which were arranged to make a giant mosaic for the school hall.

A photographer has also been working alongside teachers and pupils to capture images of the school community. The pictures represent the pupils, staff and helpers at Lakeside, as well as making a permanent record of the wider community of Clifton Moor. The photographs have been displayed in groups around the school, and some have been made into giant canvasses.

Year 1 teacher Sara Lovelady said: “We hope the finished art projects will provide a lasting reminder of this special event and celebrate the pride we take in the varied community and environment of Lakeside School.”