Double celebration at Headlands (From Penarth Times)

Double celebration at Headlands

11:50am Wednesday 9th December 2009

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THERE was a double celebration at Headlands School in Penarth last week - with special guests dropping in to help with proceedings!

The Paget Place school, run by the charity Action for Children, celebrated its 90th birthday – AND held the grand opening of a £150,000 Astro Turf football pitch.

On Wednesday (November 25), rugby star Gary Powell, former Cardiff City player Don Murray and Penarth Town Mayor, Cllr John Fraser, presided over a football tournament on the artificial surface.

A team from Headlands took on Maes Gwyn, from Aberdare, and Merthyr Tydfil-based Greenfield School.

The home side overcame an early defeat to clinch the title and Cardiff Blues player Gary Powell presented certificates to each team.

The pitch, which opened earlier this year, was part-funded by the Sports Council for Wales and is being used by local sports clubs and schools.

Headteacher Matthew Burns said: “The pitch has been such a success and we’re nearly always fully booked.

“Local football and rugby clubs are using it, as well as our own pupils.”

An exhibition of pupils’ work was held the following evening as Headlands celebrated its 90th birthday.

Opened in 1919 and donated by the Gibbs family, the school was originally home to young people who had lost loved ones in the First World War.

During the exhibition the school was supported by representatives of the Gibbs family and local historian Alan Thorne, who talked about school life in the 1940s and 50s.

James and William Gibbs then joined headteacher Matthew Burns in cutting a birthday cake.

Mr Burns said: “The celebrations were a great success and it was good to see so many parents, carers and friends of the school in attendance.”

In the build-up to the celebrations, a themed learning week at the start of November gave current pupils the chance to understand what life was like for students in 1919.

Activities involved taking part in old-fashioned PE lessons, making gruel in science and preparing a time capsule in Geography.

On the final day of the week, Headlands teamed up with Albert Primary - where pupils used to travel for schooling in the old days.

Albert Primary headteacher Huw Jones held an assembly and talked about the war, life in the school and the community in 1919.

Mr Burns added: “Headlands School would like to say a big thank you to all who contributed to the success of our 90th birthday celebrations.”

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