School looks back over 50 years...

Boatbuilding, house design and typewriting were all on the curriculum when Hoveton Secondary School opened 50 years ago.Now, half a century on, memories of those early years will be rekindled at a special evening at the school's current incarnation - Broadland High.

Boatbuilding, house design and typewriting were all on the curriculum when Hoveton Secondary School opened 50 years ago.

Now, half a century on, memories of those early years will be rekindled at a special evening at the school's current incarnation - Broadland High.

Pupils and staff past and present are all invited along to the school's annual exhibition this Thursday July 17 from 5pm to 8pm.

As well as a display of current pupils' work there will be an exhibition of the school's history and a barbecue and grand prize raffle organised by the Broadland Parent-Teacher-Association.

The Hoveton school cost a total £106,524 11s 4d and was built by Tooley and Youngs of Stalham.

It opened with 300 pupils on roll from 11 primary schools in the surrounding area. There are now over 700.

It offered the pupils a four-year course of general education “to develop their skills in practical ways as well as in subjects of a more academic nature”.

There was also a one-year commercial course for those pupils reaching school-leaving age.

The first headmaster was Mr B R Youngman with Mr H D Church as deputy and a teaching staff of 14. There are now 50.

There were specialist rooms to teach art and crafts, housecraft, handicraft, general and rural science.

The school garden had its own greenhouse and potting shed.

In recent years Broadland became a specialist mathematics and computing school.

This week's 50th anniversary events are among the last to be held under the headship of Don Cameron who is retiring after 14 years to be succeeded by Carol Dallas.

Current pupils will be marking the half century by spending a day in 1950s dress.