A CHESTER comprehensive school is going for gold.

Christleton High, which has 1,300 students and 140 staff, is due to celebrate its 50th anniversary next September.

Almost half a century after it opened in the Green Belt village, the school, which serves small rural communities around Chester and the city’s eastern suburbs, has specialist status in maths and computing with business and enterprise.

Headteacher Tony Lamberton says plans are already under way for a wide range of celebrations of 50 years of education at Christleton.

He said: “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

“And we want to give our students a range of experiences that they will remember.”

These will include a number of events with an anniversary theme, such as a whole school thanksgiving service, school lunch days as they were in the 1960s, non-uniform days with 60s, 70s and 80s themes, a memorial to last another 50 years, time capsules, a display of history timelines and a photographic exhibition.

“We also intend to arrange a major expedition to a Third World country which will not only involve trekking, but raising funds and working for a school or community project whilst out there,” added Mr Lamberton.

The school believes the most demanding project could be to publish a commemorative book and is asking Chronicle readers to help.

“We have some archive material but it would be really useful if anyone has any photographs that they would be willing to loan to us so that we can collate a substantial amount of potential items for inclusion in the book,” said Mr Lamberton.

He is also seeking memorabilia such as old uniforms, awards or such like for the displays which will be taken good care of and returned.

l Contact the school on 01244 335843 or email anniversary@christletonhigh.co.uk if you can assist with their big plans.