A SCHOOL marked its 80th birthday with a big celebration involving current and former pupils.

Witney Community Primary School turned 80 on Wednesday, March 28.

Pupils old and new joined staff in a big round of ‘Happy Birthday To You’ and the youngest and oldest children at the school blew out the candles on an enormous cake.

Headteacher Jill Meyer found the celebration a moving occasion.

She said: “It was an emotional day for all the staff and children and having our visitors with us made it extra special.

“We are very excited by the next few months of celebrations and the learning about the last 80 years and the developments in education.”

To mark the occasion the school had an assembly in which pupils learned all about the history of the school and the 1930s.

Youngsters Harry Hunt and Luke Morcombe, who are the youngest and oldest children in school, blew out the candles on a big cake.

Witney residents visited the school on the day to join the party, including some who had attended the school on its first day.

A former headteacher’s son was also invited and joined the celebrations.

All came together to sing Happy Birthday and clap 80 times to commemorate the 80 years of the school’s existence.

Witney Community Primary School, in Hailey Road, was established on March 28, 1938, just over a year before Britain entered the Second World War.

During wartime the school was closed and the building was used to look after evacuees.

Some, however, believe it may have been used as a hospital throughout the time of the conflict.

To mark the special anniversary, youngsters from all the school’s classes have been receiving lessons on the building’s history.

Staff at the primary school have even enlisted the help of former students to come in and provide insight on how things used to be.

At the end of June, the school will celebrate its anniversary with a special event.

Though planning is still in its early stages, it looks set to be a journey into the early days of the school, with children donning outfits and listening to music from the era.