A PRIMARY school in Taunton proudly opened its doors to visitors, former colleagues, and ex-pupils as it celebrated 75 years of service to its community.

Priorswood Primary School has been teaching generations of Taunton families over the years, and is currently rated ‘Good’ by education regulator Ofsted.

The school opened its doors to a host of past staff and students for a celebratory array of activities and nostalgia representing the past 75 years.

Head of School Carly Ellis said: “Thank you to everyone who joined us in our celebration.

“The children were amazing, and it was lovely to hear so many reminisce about their time at Priorswood.

Thank you to all the staff who supported the event.

“I hope you all enjoyed it.”

Guests enjoyed an afternoon filled with joy and memories as they browsed an abundance of old pictures and newspaper clippings, as well as a display of work from the past to the present.

Visitors had the opportunity to walk the corridors and tour the school, sharing stories and reminiscing about their time at Priorswood.

The landmark celebration also included cake, a bouncy castle, fun guessing games using old photos, tours, a trail, and several performances from the children.

But the highlight of the afternoon was the pupils’ Matilda singing group, who wowed the audience with an outstanding and polished performance.

However, visitors also enjoyed seeing some new school features alongside the many fond memories.

Priorswood recently opened a sensory room, which was partly funded by a generous donation from Linda Collins, who worked for 25 years at Priorswood until her recent retirement.

Additionally, school leaders enjoyed introducing visitors to Priorswood’s new community allotment area.

Head of School, Carly Ellis, initiated this project in collaboration with the Somerset Wildlife Trust.

Patrick from the Somerset Wildlife Trust helped a small group of volunteers clear an old goat pen which had since become overgrown.

Since then, a growing group of pupils and parents have pitched in to turn the space into a productive educational space and a communal school allotment where food can be grown and taken home.

Ruth Garbett, one ex-member of staff who enjoyed returning for the celebration, said: “Thank you very much for inviting us to join in the celebrations.

“It was good to see some old faces and have a catch-up. I especially enjoyed the Matilda singing group – they were brilliant, so energetic.”