A YORK school is celebrating its golden jubilee - just as pupils and staff look forward to moving into new premises.

Hob Moor Community Primary School, which opened in September 1954, is organising a series of events and activities to mark the anniversary.

Pupils have recorded a jubilee song, an exhibition has opened displaying old school photos, records and memorabilia from the past half century, and a reception for former pupils is being planned.

Organisers of the festivities said several generations of children had been educated at Hob Moor since it opened, and the school had a very special community atmosphere.

"Mums and dads, their children and the people that have helped them learn have created a unique atmosphere for five generations," said a spokeswoman.

The jubilee song has been written by local artist and parent Ruby Paul, and a CD recording, featuring all the children, will go on sale for a small fee from Saturday, with proceeds going towards the purchase of important equipment.

The exhibition in the infant hall, which should prove of great interest to ex-pupils, opened this week, and runs from 3.30pm until 4.30pm every day until Friday.

The former pupils' reception was being held this evening, with ex-pupils invited to come along at 7pm to meet old friends and look around the old school before the planned move to a new building. A golden jubilee fair is also planned for Friday, from 5pm until 7.30pm.

"Everyone is welcome to join the Hob Moor families for an enjoyable evening," said the spokeswoman.

A jubilee concert is also planned for July 14, involving performances of 1950s songs, a comic turn for staff and children, a performance of the jubilee song, jiving displays and the presentation of jubilee medals.

There are plans to stage a sports day with traditional 1950s games and, throughout the rest of the term, pupils will be studying the life and times of Britain in the 1950s, including participating in dressing-up days. Pupils will conduct a study of the school grounds before parts of it are turned into a building site as work starts on building the new school. Staff say a lasting record will be made of all the plants, trees and animals.

A new Hob Moor School is set to be built under a City of York Council Private Finance Initiative, subject to the completion of negotiations with the preferred contractor.

It is hoped building will start in the autumn, and the work is expected to take about 15 months.

Updated: 09:29 Wednesday, June 23, 2004