A PONTYPOOL school will celebrate its half century with an open-air mass with the Archbishop of Cardiff and an open day for past pupils in June.

St Alban’s High School, on The Park, opened in September 1963 and now educates 1,050 Gwent pupils.

The Archbishop of Cardiff, George Stack, will be leading the mass on Friday, June 20 and the school will be open from 3.30pm until 6.30pm.

There will be a hog roast for selected guests of the school, and an anniversary book is being produced in celebration.

The school’s headteacher, Mike Coady, said: “I hope it is going to be a celebration of what St Alban’s has meant to this community.”

The celebrations are being run by the former chairman of governors, Gregory Hinds.

Mr Hinds said he was very pleased to be involved.

“It’s a privilege to be involved because the teachers are outstanding,” he added.

Pupils travel from from as far as Abergavenny, Brynmawr and Abertillery to attend the school.