Super school service celebrates centenary

Reporter: Rosalyn Roden
Date published: 07 November 2016


A ROYTON primary school has celebrated the 100th anniversary of its dedication with a special service.

St Anne's Primary School, in Broadway, marked the occasion of at St Anne's Church with a look back over its 100-year history.

Year 6 pupils carried out a role play about the founding fathers of the school and its close links with the cotton industry at the service on Wednesday morning.

Head teacher Mrs Sue Holt said: "I thought the service was excellent and staff said it was the best they had ever been to.

"It was very moving and captured our values which were set by the founding fathers - faith, hope and love.

"It is very important that we preserve this building.

"More than £1 million has been invested in the upkeep of the old buildings so that it can be used into the future.

"It is an honour to be the head teacher here."

The children's re-enactment explained why another school was needed in Royton as the cotton industry grew.

It focused on Reverend Ormerod who gathered the fathers to set up St Anne's and donated £6,000 - just under half of the overall start-up cost.

St Anne's, founded in 1916, said on social media: "We had a wonderful service in church to celebrate our centenary.

"Our children performed brilliantly; our values are still very much alive today.

"Thank you to our special guests who attended, including the Worshipful the Mayor and Mayoress of Oldham, Bishop Mark Davies and Maurice Smith."

Each of the school pupils took home a centenary mug and bag as a birthday gift, featuring a logo created by one of the pupils.