The children at Kinsale Junior School spent the day on Thursday 17 September exploring different eras spanning the school’s history. While Year 6 studied 1951 when the school first opened, Year 5 went back to the seventies with the 25th anniversary in 1976, Year 4 looked at 2001 and the school’s 50th birthday, and Year 3 focused on 2026.
Staff also entered into the spirit of the occasion, with many sporting the fashion of their class’s chosen decade.
Head of School Jo Philpott helped to organise the event.
All year groups were off timetable for the day and looking at UK history for different eras of the last 75 years, she said.
Children were in their uniform, but some staff dressed up in their era clothing as a surprise to the pupils.
The celebrations continued the following day with the Birthday Fete, where friends and family members joined staff and children to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
Reflecting the school’s heritage, a range of traditional entertainment was on offer, with each year group running stalls with different competitions and games.
Challenges included Name the Teddy, Guess the Number of Sweets, Guess the Weight of the Cake, Treasure Map, and a drop-the-penny game, as well as a penalty shoot-out, Higher or Lower, and Adopt an Animal.
In keeping with Kinsale’s Zoo School status and partnership with the Zoological Society of East Anglia (ZSEA), there was also a surprise appearance from a furry visitor.
Mrs Philpott continued:
We were joined at the Fete by two staff from ZSEA, one dressed in the Toby the Tiger suit as a guest to meet the children for hugs and high fives.
They had a ZSEA stand to share information about our partnership with ZSEA and our Zoo School status.
More celebrations are set to follow at Kinsale Junior, which started life in the fifties as Hellesdon Infant School with just 100 pupils, and is now a member of the Wensum Trust.
Mrs Philpott added:
We are planning some other events later in the year. We have a time capsule from July 2002 that we may open next year, as it will have been 25 years sealed.
