Dereham Sixth Form College celebrates its 40th birthday this year and a special commemoration event is planned for the end of the month.
The Sixth Form, one of just three in the country at the time, began in 1977 when schooling in the area became comprehensive.
Initially it inhabited just part of the current site on Crown Road with the rest being used by the lower school of the new Neatherd High School.
It opened with just 41 students.
Due to a shortage of money from the education authority the students, teachers and parents took it upon themselves to turn their new centre into one fit for purpose during the summer holiday before its opening.
They painted walls, re-covered chairs, parents donated furniture and students ran a sponsored swim to raise money for improvements.
When the centre's first director, Laurence Toye, was appointed, the students, wanting to give a good impression, quickly decorated one of the classrooms for the interview. They rapidly developed a friendly and relaxed atmosphere which has continued right through to today.
When the Sixth Form celebrated 20 years it had grown to accommodate 272 students with additional classrooms and offered 23 A Levels, 23 AS Levels, GNVQ and GCSE courses, compared to its original offering of 14 A Levels.
Over the years it has increased still in size in terms of student numbers, course offering and buildings and is now a popular choice for post-16 study for a large number of Norfolk students.
A ceremony will be held on Friday, March 31 at 9.45am to which all current and past students are invited.
As part of the event seven sites of special interest around the college will be commemorated with plaques. These are the eco mobile, pedestrian gate, eastern stream, four chimneys, college sundial, reception archway and memorial trees.
The College is also looking to put together a special edition of their newsletter, The Sixth Former, detailing the history of the college and including memories and photographs from past students.
If you would like to attend the ceremony or would like to submit something for the newsletter email Rachel Chavez at rchavez@dsfc.org.uk.
To join the college's Alumni Society visit www.dsfc.org.uk.
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