FORMER and current teachers and pupils of a Taunton school gathered at Taunton Library to start off celebrations of 50 years.

The Castle School opened its exhibition at 2pm today (June 13), with the Mayor, two former, and the current head teacher.

The exhibition will be open until Friday, June 17, for people to go and reminisce and spot themselves in old pictures.

Head teacher, Sarah Watson, said: "I would like to pay tribute to my predecessors. One of the great things about the school is the excellence of its heads.

"We have built a wonderful school and it has been easy to succeed them.

"We have the most incredible staff, the teaching is very strong. We really have to thank the governors for their stewardship."

Mr David Speight was head teacher of the school for 21 years.

He said: "The school has increased in size, buildings have been added and the hall has been totally rearranged. However, the high standards have been maintained to the point the school can justly claim to be one of the leading comprehensive schools in the country.

"I am very pleased that the emphasis on extra circular activities in music, drama and sport has not been lost in the simple pursuit of examination results."

Following Mr Speight, Mr Kevin Freedman joined the ranks as the new head teacher. He held the role between January 1996 - August 2010.

Mr Freedman said: "I was very fortunate to have been head, I was really lucky. There are fantastic adults working there, fantastic students, and special families and parents.

"The school puts every student first, every student is special. I feel like it moved forward under my headship, it is a school that never stands still.

"The house system is really successful and makes the students feel included. The people really make it special."

In recent years, the school has been converted into an academy.

Chair of governors, Shelia Naylor, says that this was an excellent transformation, as the school has now benefited from more than £2 million in investments.

Mrs Naylor said: "The school has completely transformed in the last few years. It is wonderful for us and for the town. There is a very strong loyalty here, I feel privileged to be associated with it."

Taunton Deane Mayor Vivienne Stock-Williams visited the exhibition, taking her first glimpse at the school through pictures.

She said: "I am looking forward to my first visit. I have only ever heard excellent things from a lot of people. The reputation is superb. Children perform so well there, whatever their talent might be."

Ex-students also came to visit the exhibition opening, photos of previous school years are on display alongside posters and newsletters from past years.

Lorraine Lock, who believes she was in the third year of students ever to attend the school, said: "I went there from 1967-1971. The buildings have been altered quite a bit and there is a new hall and new teachers, but I can still find my way around.

"I remember in the summer, all the girls used to where straw hats with a ribbon signifying what house you were in, there were only four back then."

Alongside the exhibition, the school is also hosting a night to celebrate the milestone year.

The event will be held on Friday, July 15, from 7:30pm.

Mrs Clark said: "We would love as many people to come as possible. There will be a bar and a band, staring our own Mr Urquhart. We would love for people to come and celebrate the school's success."