Finchley school celebrates 200th anniversary (From Times Series)

St Mary's CE Primary School celebrates 200th anniversary

5:19pm Tuesday 11th September 2012 in News By Natalie O'Neill

Two hundred children lined a Finchley playground to signify the start of their school’s bicentenary celebrations yesterday.

Pupils Yara Martins-Aguiar, eight, and Eden Huyck-Jones, five, cut a ribbon to officially mark the 200th anniversary of St Mary's CE Primary School in Dollis Park.

St Mary's first opened as a charity school in a converted house in 1812 before moving to a purpose built school at the junction of Hendon Lane and Regents Park Road in the early 1850's.

It moved again in 1990 to its present location at the bottom of Dollis Park.

Headteacher Rob Allen said: "There was a real buzz and general feeling of excitement in the playground.

“There was a positive and supportive attitude from the parents, most of whom stayed to watch the cutting of the ribbon and many of whom came in to share our special assembly.”

The school plans to have events throughout the year to celebrate its anniversary.

Teacher, Jane Harman, said: “We feel it's important for the children to recognise the life of the school over the last 200 years and its impact on the community.

“Throughout the year we are completing a curriculum project. This will involve the children studying various aspects of social history over the last 200 years.

"This half term we are learning about transport, education and world events between 1812 and 1850.”