A SCHOOL is celebrating its 150th birthday this year and wants past pupils and the community to help it part in style.

Headington Quarry Foundation Stage School was founded in 1864 and headteacher Lesley Carrington is calling on local people and former pupils to provide pictures and stories from the school’s history.

Plans for the celebrations are still in the early stages and a meeting is to be held next week to hear from the community for more deas.

Mrs Carrington, who has been at the school for nearly six years, said: “We are very proud of the strong links we have with the community and the area.

“We have so many families where a number of generations have come to the school and that is really important to us.”

Currently there are about 80 pupils, aged between three and five, at the foundation stage school.

Mrs Carrington added: “The area used to be quite an impoverished one and there was a lot of deprivation so school for a lot of children was an important chance and change in their lives.

“There is obviously a different feel these days, but it is a mixed area but we do still have a lot of the same family names cropping up.

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The top class at the school in 1951

“I don’t know a huge amount the history of the school. We know it has had various different forms over the years and started out as a church school, but it would be great to find out more about its past and some of its key moments.”

She said it was still considering how it was going to commemorate the event for its current pupils, but an exhibition was one option.

Katie Wilson, 37, of Headington, is a teaching assistant at the school and has worked there for the past seven years.

She said: “It is a pleasure working at the school and my family has been very involved with the school for many years.

“My mum used to work here, and my kids went to school here as well, so we have a strong connection.”

A meeting will be held on February 25 at 6pm in the community room at the school, in Quarry School Place, Headington. All are welcome to attend.