A WEYMOUTH school celebrated its 25th anniversary yesterday with a morning of festivities and a visit from the Mayor.

A quarter of a century since opening its doors, Beechcroft St Paul’s Primary School, invited former teachers, governors, dinner ladies and parents for a morning of hymns and activities to mark the occasion.

Originally a purpose-built infant school, Beechcroft forged strong links with St Paul’s church and expanded to become a voluntary aided church of England school for four to eleven-year-olds in 2003.

The school’s first headteacher, Joyce Brown, said: "To be the head of the school at its inception was absolutely incredible.

"It’s been the children’s school right from the start, they even named the school. At first they were suggesting things like Jelly Bean and Happy School, but then we started thinking about things that grow.

"Our old site in Cromwell Road was very sparse and the vision for this school was to have a secret garden.

"The children came up with the word croft, which is on a lot of the road names around here and related to farming, then two children just put the two things together to make Beechcroft, and we just grew and grew."

The school marked its anniversary by unveiling a Beech tree wall mural, baring the names of current pupils, in a dedicated assembly service.

After a performance by the pupils, Mayor of Weymouth and Portland Richard Kosior, joined the other guests for a tour of the school by year five pupils.

He said: "It is a special day for the school and the reason I have come along is not only to see what the school is doing, but because I think it is a two way street.

"These are our young residents and they are going to be the next movers and shakers in the borough.

"It is probably the first time many of them have seen an official and it takes away the mystery, it makes us more approachable. I'm here to dispel myths."

The year-long beech tree projected, created by the children, will take pride of place at the centre of the school building.

Headteacher Jean-Paul Draper said: "We wanted everyone to be part of the celebration service, the beech tree was important to us as as has the names of all our current pupils and will be placed in the heart of the school, beneath the original bell from Cromwell Road, and symbolise the continuity of the school."