High-flying school Lancaster

Hathershaw Technical College.

A SCHOOL whose design was inspired by the iconic Lancaster bomber is celebrating its 60th anniversary.

Hathershaw College has a packed programme of events planned for next month to mark the diamond anniversary, including a record breaking sit-up attempt and 60 staff tackling a 10K run.

Hathershaw Technical School was opened on May 17, 1955 by Sir Frank Lord - the school’s layout in the shape of a Lancaster bomber to commemorate the plane’s construction nearby in Chadderton.

The technical grammar school required pupils to pass the 11 plus to go there - one of whom was Mike Russell, who attended from 1959-1966 and is a former teacher himself. He will give a series of talks to students about life at the school through the decades.

“It was Oldham’s only technical grammar and one of only a few in the country,” explained Mike (67), who described his schooldays at Hathershaw as “fantastic”.

Most of the curriculum was focused on science and technical subjects, but pupils also did arts subjects and many went on to university.

The subjects may have changed over the years and the school became a comprehensive in 1966 — later reflecting its roots when it gained specialist technology status in 2000.

As part of the celebrations, 60 staff will take part in the Greater Manchester 10K on May 10 in T-shirts designed by pupil Aqsa Waheed.

Pupils will also attempt to break the record for the most number of people doing sit-ups at the same time (May 18).

Former staff and pupils can return to their old school on May 17, to look round and catch a display of memorabilia.