PARTYING pupils turned back the clock to a decade of pop music, perms and padded shoulders, as they celebrated the 30th anniversary of their primary school move.
Students and staff at St Augustine’s RC Primary School, Darlington, donned legwarmers, ra-ra skirts and Lurex shell suits for a 1980s flash-back bash to mark three decades since the school moved from Larchfield Street to Beechwood Avenue.
The event, which saw parents and parishioners from the local community invited for a tour around the building and tea and biscuits, was part of a week-long commemoration which culminated in a whole school celebration mass with invited guests from The Carmel Education Trust, led by Father Seamus Doyle.
Head of school Martine McCollom said: “All week long we have been celebrating the decade in which our new school was built and the children have had fabulous time learning about the 1980s.
“As well as finding out historical facts from 30 years ago, such as the fall of the Berlin Wall, we have also been looking at the technology and fashions of the time and holding an 80s singing competition.
“We were extremely fortunate that our celebrations fell on the same week as the feast day of St Augustine’s and that governors, directors, members of the school’s friends association, school volunteers and head teachers from our partner schools, within the Carmel Education Trust, were able to come and celebrate with us.”
Following the mass, where certificates were presented to staff who had been working at the school for over 20 years, all pupils were treated to cake and ice cream in the school grounds.
Student Hannah Board, nine, said: “We have been learning about the 1980s during our celebration week and it seemed a very strange time to me. Everyone had funny hair and wore crazy clothes but the music was very funky.”
Freya Green, ten, added: “The 1980s feels like a very long time ago but it looks like it was a lot of fun.
“I really like the music and the fashion but I don’t think I could have survived without having a mobile phone or the internet.”