Pupils at Redland School in Chippenham have been wearing flared jeans and platforms this week.

They are marking the primary school’s 40th birthday by learning about 70s culture.

The Brook Street school was opened in October 1973 by John Craven, then the BBC’s Newsround presenter who now hosts Countryfile.

Headteacher Hilary Lambert, who is the school’s longest-serving member of staff having joined as deputy head in 1985, said: “What a special week, we’ll never forget this. The parents have been fantastic in helping them dress up. We’ve had the Bay City Rollers, punks, Elvis Presley.

“They’ve been listening to disco music. We are all loving it, it’s our era. It’s not quite what the kids are used to, they’re saying, ‘Did you really listen to that?’”

Children and staff released 350 red balloons tagged with their names in a celebration on Friday to see whose would travel the furthest. So far they have received 28 replies, with the furthest from 208 miles away in Diss, Norfolk. Others had touched down in Royal Wootton Bassett, Oxford, Herefordshire and Berkshire.

Ms Lambert said: “It was very dramatic seeing them all released at the same time and the kids are very excited to know where they’ve ended up.”

They were entertained by a juggler, clown, dog and BMX stunt artist, and joined in a tea party by former pupils still living in Chippenham, who were taken on a tour of the school to see how it had changed.

Ms Lambert said the school was a very different place from when it first opened. “It was open plan at first, and has been hugely extended,” she said. “The original role had 130 pupils and now we’ve got 290.”

The celebrations come to a finale tomorrow with a buffet at the Neeld Hall from 8pm for everyone connected with the school.

Live music will come from Redland music teacher Peter Williams’ band Shake the Bucket.

A calendar featuring current pupils is being made to commemorate 40 years of Redland School and will be available for parents to buy in December.