SCHOOLS are an incredibly important part of life, providing a bedrock of experiences, lessons and guidance to help youngsters transition to adulthood.

Across the historic county of Gwent, hundreds of schools and their staff have made a difference to young peoples’ lives over the years, establishing strong traditions and pushing pupils to be the best they can be.

This year, one such school, Risca Community Comprehensive, is celebrating a special anniversary with a year of events paying tribute to pupils and staff, past and present.

While the rise of digital learning may have transformed the school’s classrooms, strong leadership, creativity and community have remained at the heart of the school’s ethos.

As part of their 40-year anniversary, veteran teacher and former Newbridge Comprehensive School deputy head, Nick Thomas, will pen a book on the school’s history.

The book explores its history prior to its 1977 royal opening when Risca pupils would attend classes across five different sites in the town.

These included the headmaster’s house, a local church and library, with school children and teachers making the move to the Pontymason Lane,without the help of contractors, in 1977 ahead of the Royal seal of approval.

The retired teacher and author was approached by Risca Comprehensive’s head, John Kendall, to write the book following his work writing about legendary Newport toastmaster Harry Polloway.

The result — which is set to be released at the end of this year — pays tribute to culture and history of the school as remembered by former staff and pupils.

This includes memories of former “inspirational” science teacher, Alan Parfitt, who was fondly known as “Jonny Compost” for his work keeping animals and running a farm at the school.

From working 365 days a year — including on Christmas day — to his time supporting the ‘Rosla Children’ who were affected by the school age increasing to 16 in 1972, the book pays fond tributes to his impact on pupils.

Other teachers in the book include head of technology Owen Reynolds, who worked at the school for more than 30 years taking children on notable trips to national competitions.

This included a trip via helicopter to an oil rig which “you would never get clearance for today,” said Mr Thomas.

He added: “Writing the book has been really interesting. I have met some fascinating people with some truly inspiring stories.

“The mutual affection between staff and pupils is amazing - they become true friends.

“The history of the school is (also) one of a strong community coming together to achieve some remarkable successes, whilst supporting those less fortunate than some.

“It is the type of school that people dream of attending and working in”.

The book will also revisit the day when the Queen officially opened the school as part of her Silver Jubilee celebrations on Friday, June 24, 1977.

Risca Comprehensive head teacher Derek McKie (1970 – 1993) hosted the Queen, showcasing the school’s new facilities with a musical concert and canoeing demonstrations in the school’s leisure centre.

Prior to the visit, several royal detectives did security checks on the premises, with Mr McKie being responsible for collating a list of people who were allowed inside the building.

Decades on, the Silver Jubilee celebrations hold a special resonance for the staff and pupils of Risca Comprehensive.

Throughout its history, Risca Community Comprehensive has had four head teachers including Mr McKie (1970 – 93), Mrs Millichamp (1994-2004), Mrs Kingston (2004 -09) and John Kendall, who started in 2009.

Mr Kendall, believes that “tradition is very important” and schools should “always recognise where they come from”.

“Some of the great schools that we think of – some of the Etons and Harrows of the world – they’re based on strong tradition,” he said.

“There’s no reason at all why a state comprehensive school can’t do exactly the same thing and benefit from its previous pupils and make a big thing of its sporting and academic traditions.”

He added: “It’s important that schools mark that and what is particularly interesting is that at any given time a school has 600 or 1,000 pupils who are part of its community.

“But actually there are thousands and thousands of people who are part of that community as they’re the ones that have been at that school.

“When we get parents coming to parents evening for the first time for year seven pupils one of the first things they ask is if teachers are still here. People have memories of the school.”

To mark the 40th anniversary, current students were invited to show their support by sporting ties previously worn by pupils in the 1970s.

Other events include a themed summer concert, a full school picture and the burying of a time capsule which takes place today. This will be attended by top athlete and Risca Community Comprehensive alumni, Jamie Baulch.

The school also organised an essay competition, with children submitting stories on the subject ‘A Day in the Life of a Pupil in 2077’ which is when the capsule will be unearthed.

With history as a core theme, pupils will also be taken back in time to 1977 teaching style in a event this year, replacing whiteboards and digital materials with those used when the school first opened.

Head teacher Mr Kendall said: “I was a child bang in the middle of my secondary school in 1977 and I remember what it was like to be a child, the goods and the bads. It resonates with me personally.

“If you’re trying to work out where the school’s going you have to know where it has been because that’s part of it. You don’t start from scratch.

“Looking forward, we would hope to continue to give children the opportunities that we have been giving them over the last 40 years and increasing those opportunities.

“We’re trying to prepare people with the skills they need to be good citizens, have decent jobs and have good lives ahead of them.

“When I became a head teacher in this school I really tapped into the need to appreciate the community […] the parents, primary schools, college, local businesses, people and churches.

“I believe one of the big strengths of education in Wales, is the idea of the community and the school supporting each other and the community knowing the school serves it.

“All our 40th anniversary is very much a community thing and we’re one of the few schools that is proud to call ourselves a community school.”