Looking back at life in old Alyth Primary School
Project marks history of education in town
Pupils looking at some of the pictures featured in the exhibition More than 300 people attended an exhibition held to mark the move into the new Alyth Primary School.
The Alyth School Days exhibition celebrated the past, present and future of the east Perthshire school and was the culmination of a year-long partnership between the school, community groups, Culture Perth and Kinross and community learning workers from Perth and Kinross Council.
The partnership came about in anticipation of the opening of the new school later this summer.
A public consultation day was held last October where community members were invited to come and share their memories and stories of Alyth School.
A project committee raised funds and started to plan activities that would celebrate the history of the school in preparation for the move to the new school building, which is set to open in August.
Over the past nine months pupils and local people have worked together in shared art and history workshops, exchanging stories and swapping memories of school life.
The three-day exhibition brought together historical artefacts and research, memories and stories, old and new photographs, and artwork reflecting the history and future of Alyth Primary School.
It gave a snapshot of the social history of the school through the eyes of pupils and staff, past and present.
Kirstie Bailey, creative learning officer with Culture Perth and Kinross and coordinator of the Alyth School Days project, said: “This project has been a wonderful opportunity for bringing groups and community members from across Alyth together to reflect on experiences around the local school.
“The exhibition was a lovely chance for everyone to look back on their own school days, whether that was 60 years ago or more recently.”
Books on the project are available to purchase from the school office for £5.
Signed prints of a drawing of the school by renowned local artist and community link worker Alistair Jelks are also available to purchase for £15.
All proceeds will go towards school funds.
The Alyth School Days project has been funded by grants from the Living Communities Participation Fund, the SSE Drumderg Community Fund and the stART Festival.
Some of the groups and organisations involved in the project include Alyth Photographic Club, Alyth Art Club, Perth and Kinross Council Community Learning, Culture Perth and Kinross, Cateran’a Commonwealth, Alyth Family History Project, Alyth Lunch Club, Alyth Mums Group, Rachel Bower, Frances Law and John Lindsay.