THE Victorian age was brought back came to life when Gorleston pupils celebrated their school’s 135th anniversary with a series of events.

When the then Stradbroke Road School opened in Lowestoft Road in the 1870s, the respiratory disease diphtheria was commonplace and lessons tended to be quite dull affairs, with teachers dictating to pupils rather than involving them in their own learning.

Now known as Stradbroke Primary School, the pupils have been learning about their school’s past at Victorian-era lessons as part of the birthday celebrations, dressing up in Victorian clothes to recreate that authentic feel.

The schoolchildren instigated the celebrations by suggesting ideas for events to their school council.

Last Friday the school held a BBC Children in Need fundraiser by dressing up in fancy dress, which collected �189.54 for the national appeal.

The previous Friday actors from national drama group Working Space Theatre Ltd staged the production Alice In Wonderland.

During its 135-year history, the school has taken various guises including a pupil referral unit, an American school and a first school.

Headteacher Rosie Winterton said: “The children really enjoyed it; it was lovely and I think what was particularly nice was that they could decide how they wanted to celebrate.”

To see the full picture, see this week’s copy of the Yarmouth Mercury.