Vandyke Upper School is turning 50 - and you can be involved in the celebrations
It’s hard to believe but, this September, Vandyke Upper School will be celebrating 50 years since it opened its doors for the first time. Vandyke’s first pupils crossed the threshold in September 1976, and the school has grown and developed significantly since then.
Headteacher Leah Ferguson Moore says, “We are delighted to be able to share our golden jubilee celebrations with our Leighton Buzzard community. We are very proud of our school and what we have achieved over five decades. 2026 marks a significant milestone and we are honoured to be able to reflect on our past, and the many thousands of people who have shared our journey so far. We are also looking ahead to a very exciting future.”
To mark their 50th anniversary, Vandyke will be organising a range of events and activities for current and former pupils and staff, and for the wider community of Leighton Buzzard. They are in the early stages of planning the programme of events, but full details will be shared on their website and social media platforms in the coming months.
Aside from these events, Vandyke are also asking former staff and pupils to get involved in other ways. As part of the celebrations, they will be creating ‘A History of Vandyke in 50 Photos’, to be shared in school and online. They’ve already begun searching their own archives, but Vandyke are also appealing for former staff and students to send in any photographs they have of their time at Vandyke, to share memories and to show how much the school has changed over the years.
They are also looking to gather ‘talking heads’ video clips, and are inviting former staff and students to send in short videos where they share their thoughts and reflections as their old school or workplace turns 50. Happy memories, funny anecdotes, favourite teachers, the impact the school had on you and your future – whatever you would like to share, Vandyke would love to hear from you.
Leah Ferguson-Moore concludes, “If you are interested in sharing either photographs or a filmed clip, please send them to Vandyke Upper at [email protected]. And if you have any other contributions you’d like to make, please also use this email address to contact us - we really do want the whole community to play a part in this special celebration.”