Diss High School celebrates 70 years of education

Seventy years of shaping education in a part of Norfolk almost went unnoticed.

Diss High School first opened its doors as a secondary modern school – with separate buildings for its boys and girls – in April 1955.

A story published in the Diss Express on April 22, 1955, read: “No fewer than 416 scholars – 216 boys and 200 girls – are expected to descend from a surrounding area extending as far as Garboldisham, North and South Lopham and Dickleburgh.”

The schools had separate headteachers, with Mr J W Cole in charge of the boys and Miss A R M Jones in charge of the girls.

Seventy years later and the milestone could have passed unnoticed had it not been for staff member Lindsey Vernon, who saw mention of the school’s upcoming landmark year online, prior to confirming the date for herself.

Headteacher Sam Stopps said he was indebted to Mrs Vernon for spotting such an important milestone.

“We were delighted at Diss High to find out that we are 70 years old this year,” he said. “I am so very grateful to Lindsey for noticing this important anniversary.”

To mark seven decades of educating people in Diss, Mrs Vernon has been collating stories from the local community about their experiences of going to the school over the last seven decades.

“It has been really interesting to hear some of their stories and a special mention must go to one of our cleaners, Sheila Stringer, who was in the very first cohort of pupils in 1955 and is still working here 70 years later,” said Mr Stopps.

Celebrations to mark the anniversary have included cakes baked by a few of the school’s students and a group picture of current teachers and support staff to mark the moment.