PUPILS and staff at a Teesside school have celebrated its 25th birthday.

Children returning after the six-week holiday enjoyed a giant birthday cake at Yarm School.

Pupils also watched television documentaries about the founding of the school, which followed the closure of Yarm Grammar School.

Headteacher David Dunn told them that the school was founded by parents and initially had 60 boys and three teachers.

Today it has more than 900 boy and girl pupils, a preparatory school and a nursery school.

"We've come a long way," he said. "We're well-established and are the biggest independent school in the area.

"It's a big tribute to the parents who founded the school, some of whom are still governors, my predecessor as headteacher, Neville Tate, and everyone involved with the school."

Fees for the private school are £700 per month.