St Helena School opened in Colchester in 1938, and was originally two separate schools - one for boys and another for girls.

The site of St Helena's, in Sheepen Road, was previously home to a Roman temple, built in 90AD, which archaeologists discovered in the 1930s.

The original school building still stands and two major extensions have increased its capacity from 720 to more than 1,000.

Thousands of pupils have passed through the school in its 78 years.

The school took its name from Colchester's patrol saint Saint Helena of Constantinople.

Here is a collection of pictures from the Gazette archives, some of which date back to the 1940s.

Have you spotted yourself in the pictures? Let us know in the comments.

  • Do you have any old pictures you would like to share with us? Email gazette.newsdesk@newsquest.co.uk