A PRIMARY school in Studley will celebrate its 50th anniversary this week with special 60s themed activities.

Mappleborough Green CE Primary School, in Henley Road, was officially opened on February 26, 1965 at 3pm.

At the time, a service was conducted by Sir Lionel Russell, chief education officer for the city of Birmingham, and a special dedication was performed by a former Anglican Bishop of Coventry Cuthbert Bardsley CBE, who died in 1991.

The school cost £16,000 to build and accommodated 50 children. At the time, the opening was marked by the planting of an oak tree costing 11 shillings and 3 pence.

On Thursday, February 26 the school is holding celebrations with a tea party, re-dedication service and an art exhibition taking place.

Staff and children at the school are urging former pupils, who attended the school in 1965, to contact the headteacher Alex Finch on 01527 852240.

Mr Finch said: “We would love to hear from you and see any photographs or artefacts that you have, but we promise that you won't be fed school dinners or be told to do lines.

“They (the children) have thought of lots of questions that they would like to ask.”