A SCHOOL organised a special knees-up to celebrate its 50-year history.

Teacher flash mobs, fancy dress days, cake contests and tea parties were among the revelry as Holcombe Brook Primary School marked its half-century.

Pupils, teachers and parents have been in on the fun at the Ramsbottom school throughout November.

Head teacher Gill Evans said: "The celebrations have been fantastic.

"Everything seemed to come together.

"On our official birthday, the day started with a real 'wow' moment for the community, as the staff performed a 'flash mob' dance to music out on the yard.

"Children have been researching topics spanning the past 50 decades so they had an awareness of the people of the time and could dress up in costumes of the time.

"It was supported really well by the parents and the kids loved it."

The school chose November 9 as its official birthday as that was seen as a time when the first ever academic year was fully underway.

On November 9 this year, pupils and staff dressed in clothing from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

Poet, governor and parent Paul Jenkins also helped the school celebrated its big birthday by writing a poem with the pupils.

Holcombe Brook first opened in May 1967 with a small cohort of children.

The age of the school was only realised when Mrs Evans came across an old log book used by head teachers in years gone by.

Ex-pupils also made contact with the school via Facebook, mentioning that they thought it was the school's 50th birthday.

Mrs Evans said: "There have been several changes during the school's 50-year history.

"The main stamp of the building is the same. But our school field used to be a farmers' field, we have built a porta-cabin and our library used to be an outside area."

She added: "It has been wonderful to see everyone come together to mark this important date in the school's history."