A KEIGHLEY school will celebrate in style this academic year to mark 50 years of educating local young people.

Holy Family Catholic School was officially opened in May 1965, though it had already accepted its first students in September of the previous year.

A spokesman for Holy Family said: "We intend to use the whole year as a festival to mark this significant birthday.

"There will be an open day on November 8 to open the public events and the year will culminate in a carnival day on May 16 2015."

Holy Family will be displaying a special jubilee logo, designed for the occasion by student Holly Sharp. School governors have sponsored a floral display in Keighley to share the celebration with the wider community.

A website has been created at catholickeighley.org.uk to open the school’s archive to the public. Holy Family is hunting for any further photographs, newspaper clippings or other ephemera to add to the archive.

The school spokesman added: "We're inviting our former students to contribute to a CD of songs from across the last five decades, sung by a choir made up of current and former students.

"If anyone is interested in suggesting appropriate songs or joining the choir they should contact Kay Langford at the school.

"In order to help progress the further development of the school, we are planning a legacy project to create a new generation sports area in the grounds. This would be something that would provide a lasting 'heirloom' for future generations.

"An appeal has been launched to gather the match-funding we will have to provide to make the project a success."