It’s a double win for Thornhill!

Thornhill Community Academy is celebrating its 50th birthday, pictured is headteacher Jonny Mitchell with pupils Anita Bayraktar, Zakir Khan, Bethan Peace, Sahbaan Githroo and Aaron Crowe. (d622a448)

It was a bumper week for Thornhill Community Academy as it celebrated its 50th birthday and won a major international gong.

And what better way to celebrate reaching half a century than to have Educating Yorkshire winning an International Emmy award for best non-scripted entertainment programme?

The Emmys celebrate excellence in the television industry. The 42nd edition was hosted by Little Britain star Matt Lucas in New York.

The award is winging its way to Thornhill to be added to its already bulging trophy cabinet.

The fly-on-the-wall documentary series about life behind the school gates has won universal acclaim since it was broadcast this time last year.

Headteacher Jonny Mitchell said: “I am obviously delighted with the recognition gained in the States, the only tinge of regret being our inability to be there to accept the prize in person but we do have a school to run.

“As for the birthday celebrations we have been rolling the clock back and getting involved in all sorts of nostalgic events to mark this significant milestone in our history.”

The academy originally opened as Thornhill Secondary School on November 25 1964. They celebrated this week with a 1960s quiz, baking 50th birthday cupcakes and teachers ran lessons from 1964.

A group of Year 10 pupils continued to spread joy after school by visiting Fieldhead Court nursing home, where they treated residents to cupcakes and refreshments.