A SCHOOL will celebrate 50 years on its site at the weekend.

Past and present students and staff at Spennymoor School will celebrate the golden anniversary with a fun-day in the grounds on Saturday.

The school opened on April 22, 1912, as Spennymoor Higher Elementary School in Durham Road, a site now occupied by Tudhoe Grange Comprehensive School.

It was renamed Alderman Wraith School, in honour of its founder and benefactor, in 1918, and gained full secondary status in 1921.

It moved to its present building, in Whitworth Lane, in 1955 as a technical grammar school before it became a comprehensive in the mid-1970s.

Two of its best known former pupils are Anne Wood, the creator of the children's television show Teletubbies, and fashion designer Bruce Oldfield.

This celebrations also mark the refurbishment of the building to make it more accessible for disabled pupils and visitors.

The work has included a new foyer area, disabled toilets, ramps to the main entrance and canteen.

An elevator will be installed.

Parties have already been held, and former student Reuben Dowding is organising a reunion disco for all former students at 7.30pm on Saturday at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

The main celebration event is an anniversary fair from 1pm on Saturday.

Attractions will include stalls, face-painting, a computer games challenge, a pets corner, displays by community groups, pupils and local primary schools, and a car boot sale.

Pitches for the car boot sale cost £5 in advance and £10 on the day.

To book a space or to provide entertainment, call organiser Janet Cherrett on (01388) 815634.