A Hartlepool school has celebrated its 50^th birthday with a week-long series of activities and events.

West Park Primary School in Coniscliffe Road was officially opened on 12 October 1973 by the then Town Clerk Eric Waggott OBE.

Fifty years on, the school has celebrated the anniversary with a disco for pupils and a themed 70s week of learning within classrooms.

Sarah Greenan, Interim Executive Headteacher at West Park Primary School, said: “The 50th anniversary celebrations have been a great success; all children took part in lots of different activities about the history of the school and the changes that have taken place since the school was opened in 1973.

“The celebrations ended with a disco which was planned and organised by the ‘Friends of West Park’. The children had a wonderful time, and I am sure they will remember this in years to come.”

There were two separate discos on the 50^th anniversary – one for Key Stage 1 pupils and for Key Stage 2 with pupils and staff dressing up in 70s attire.

During the week, the focus in lessons was life in the 70s, covering everything from art and history to music and sport.”

Top of the music charts on 12 October 1973 was Eye Level – the theme music from the TV series Van Der Valk – by Simon Park Orchestra. The Prime Minister at the time was Edward Heath.

West Park is one of eight primary schools across Teesside under the umbrella of Ad Astra Academy Trust. The others are Barnard Grove, Brougham and West View in Hartlepool, Rosebrook and Crooksbarn in Stockton-on-Tees and Ayresome and Sunnyside in Middlesbrough.

Andy Brown OBE, Chief Executive Officer of Ad Astra Academy Trust, added: “West Park has a long and proud history, and it is right and proper that the school should celebrate its 50^th birthday.

“Many of the school’s former pupils have gone on to achieve high in a variety of walks of life and I am sure that our current pupils will achieve similar success.”

Ad Astra Academy Trust was formed in 2015 and over the last eight years has grown across the Tees Valley, providing education for over 3,500 pupils and 525 employees in Middlesbrough, Stockton-on-Tees and Hartlepool.