A FLINTSHIRE primary school has thrown it back to the eighties to mark a special anniversary.

Ysgol Gronant, on Nant-Y-Gro near Prestatyn, celebrated their school building turning 40 years old with a host of activities.

Head teacher Mrs Dawn Bayliss told the Leader how pupils and staff got really involved in marking the occasion on Friday, March 26.

She said: “It was a lovely way to end the term but also look back on our school’s history. We have a little plaque as well saying that Gronant opened its doors back in 1981.

“It was kind of a double celebration in a way because we thought that with the children all being back in school again after being separated due to COVID we had to mark the occasion big style!

“The families did an amazing job supporting the event, our pupils and staff all looked fabulous in their 80s gear.”

Mrs Bayliss explains that the pupils all designed 80s themed artwork which decorated the school grounds.

The week of celebration also included an open-air 80s themed disco on the school – complete with students donning their best costumes to showcase the decade and a staff member working the DJ booth.

“We’ve recently built a new outdoor staging area at the school which will be very useful for performances and keeping them COVID compliant”, says Mrs Bayliss.

She explains how a family quiz was sent home for children to complete and bring back to school.

The winner – Ava Martella – was selected to cut the ribbon at the official opening of the stage to round off the celebrations on Friday.

The community were also able to get involved in the celebrations too – as the pupils hid a total of 40 commemorative keyrings around the local area. They were encouraged to share them on social media with the school once someone had discovered one.

Mrs Bayliss added that a new uniform was also unveiled to mark the occasion – shifting from a burgundy colour scheme to a “fresh” blue.

She said it was inspired by the fact that the sea could be spotted from the classrooms and sports the school’s federation logo – linked with Ysgol Trelogan.