Wisewood School - which will close in 2011 to complete a controversial merger with Stannington's Myers Grove - opened in June 1933.

Headteacher Diane McKinlay said that with all the recent turmoil in the area, the anniversary had passed the school by, until a reminder had arrived from a local history enthusiast Joe Castle.

She said: "It's an excellent idea to mark the anniversary and we will be more than happy to welcome anyone who was in the first group of young people to be taught here."

The first pupils will now be well into their 80s and the plan is to show them the many changes which have taken place on the Rural Lane site.

The school's log book shows Wisewood originally had 460 pupils, drawn from Malin Bridge, Hillsborough and Marlcliffe primaries.

Although the school opened in June, the official opening did not take place until September 1933 with official duties carried out by Alderman Harold Jackson.

Wisewood was built to take in children from the surrounding new estate,

Building began around 1927 and grew to around 900 assorted houses, constructed at a cost of around £400,000.

The land for the school, at the corner of Ben Lane and Rural Lane, was purchased at a cost of £1,350 in 1927 from a local farmer.

The site became the home of the junior and senior schools.

Former pupils from the era are being asked to contact the school directly at the start of the new term to liaise over a date for the anniversary celebrations.

The school can be contacted on 0114 2333606.



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