A cardinal went back to the classroom to spend the day with high school students as part of the school’s 80th anniversary celebrations.

St James' Catholic High School, in Colindale, welcomed Cardinal Vincent Nichols to mark its milestone anniversary.

During the visit, the cardinal met with sixth form students for a Q&A session before celebrating mass with former head teachers and Dominican Sisters from the Rosary Priory.

Before formally opening the school's peace garden, hee also heard a presentation from the Year 7 students who designed it.

Sean McGovern, school business manager, said: “The visit from the cardinal was a fitting conclusion to numerous activities held to mark the school’s 80th anniversary.”

Pupils also recorded a new school song, Veritas, written and performed by students to mark the anniversary.

It will be sold to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust, the school’s adopted charity for 2014.