A CITY school that cost less than £15,000 to build and immediately took in 1,000 pupils is preparing to celebrate a century of teaching.

The building that is today's Markeaton Primary School was launched in 1910, as Kedleston Road School, and was one of the largest in Derby.

It was built because other city schools were too crowded and opened by the mayor, who said that it was "neat and clean" and would have "a beneficial influence on the home life of a child".

It was built at a cost of just £14,800 and opened on October 10, taking in 1,000 pupils including a number from nearby Ashbourne Road School, which is now known as Ashgate Primary.

Since then it has been home to a number of schools including Markeaton School for Girls and, more recently, Markeaton Primary School.

Helping to put together the celebrations to mark the building's 100th birthday is teaching assistant Dorothy Stevens, nee Guthridge.

She was a Markeaton School for Girls pupil and has been working at Markeaton Primary for 25 years. She is due to retire at the end of April.

She is helping to put together a booklet to mark the anniversary and said: "I recall the days when we put on stag shows and held fashion parades featuring the items we had made ourselves.

"Three generations of my family attended the schools in their different forms, including my father, who was born in 1926."

When the school first opened, it had room for 350 boys, 350 girls and 320 infant children, effectively operating as three schools in one with three head teachers.

It was designed by local architect Charles Sherwin and built by Pegg and Bailey.

Pupils will mark the centenary by looking back at the school's history, as well making a record of what it is like now and burying it in a time capsule for future generations to find.

Current head Clare McGarey, who has been at the school for three years, said everyone was very excited about the centenary celebrations, which will also include the creation of a commemorative clock, lapel badges and a new school song.

She said: "We will hold a celebration party on July 9 for past and present pupils and staff.

"Our annual school fair will have an Edwardian theme, we will be taking a centenary photograph of the whole school and our arts week will include a lasting piece of art work to mark the centenary."

An account of the official opening of the school, in 1910, appeared in the Derby Telegraph the following day.

The then mayor, Alderman Dr H Arnold Bemrose, praised the new building and said: "Everything there is neat and clean.

"A school such as this exercises a beneficial influence on the home life of a child and a good school is a monument of public faith and wisdom."

The school is hoping that anyone who has any memories or photographs from their time in school or an earlier era will get in touch.

Anyone who has more information about the school, should e-mail admin@markeaton.derby.sch.uk or call Derby 347374, after February 22.