Take me back…

…to the swinging sixties, or to World War II or maybe even the Edwardian era.

History will be coming alive next week at Alderman Bolton Primary School in Latchford as they look back over 100 years of education on Longdin Street.

The school is celebrating its centenary and pupils past and present will come together to make it an educational experience and a time to reflect on the importance of the school in Warrington’s history.

Each year group will be celebrating a different era and they have been working hard over the last couple of weeks to make sure they know everything about it.

Monday 14 July will see the start of the week and a dip in to the past; the day will start with a musical extravaganza of songs through the ages, nursery and reception will be taking to the catwalk in an array of school uniforms from the past and Year 6 will be in a dancing mood as they re-live the sixties and bring the school’s history up to date with contemporary street dance. Pupils from Year 2 will be having an education in what television used to be like by watching episodes of Andy Pandy, Basil Brush, Rainbow, Sooty and Sweep.

It will be an Edwardian style day for Year 4 who will be dressed in costume and taking part in washing and drawing lessons, swapping notebooks for chalkboards and the teacher will be getting into character by conducting cleanliness checks on hands and fingernails. Year 1 will be having fun with toys through the ages and year 3 will be going on the ‘Alderman Bolton Timewatch’; a history of the school and an adventure trail.

Year 5 will be reliving World War 2 as they perform children’s author, Julia Donaldson’s musical ‘Bombs and Blackberries’ set in and around Manchester. Britain is at war, and the Chivers’ youngest children have to leave their parents to live in the countryside. They are delighted to be brought back home when it looks as thought the Germans aren’t going to invade after all. But the air-raid siren goes off and this time it’s frighteningly real.

And, it doesn’t just end there on Tuesday children will take part in a street party with a bouncy castle, donkey rides, maypole dancing and other fairground attractions. Wednesday is bound to be emotional as past and present pupils meet to celebrate the schools history.

For past pupils this will be opportunity to renew old acquaintances and reminisce of good and naughty times at the school. They will be cooking some old fashioned school dinners who doesn’t remember sago pudding (frogspawn) or would like some Manchester tart and custard.

Head teacher, Lyndsey Glass said;

"I can’t believe the number of people who have bought memories of the school from way back as far as 1916, and memorabilia such as photos, press cuttings and programmes. We are sure this will be a great opportunity to bring history to life and to show how school has moved forward."

Issued by: Gina Coldrick, Press Officer

Date: Monday 14 July, 2008

Release: Immediate