FIVE-hundred-and-seventy-five years of educational history are being celebrated with a new archive website.

The launch for Chipping Campden School is the culmination of a two-year project supported by school trustees and a £30,500 grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

Founded in 1440 the school has seen many changes over the centuries and has gone from a boy’s school, to a mixed grammar, to a comprehensive and now in its latest chapter, to an academy. The website charts these and many other events in an interactive timeline and extensive online archive collection. A great deal of original material has survived.

The project idea was developed by a group of former students with the School Trustees.

A team of local volunteers has been working with pupils and staff to build the website which brings together official records with anecdotes and personal memorabilia. The research and digitisation has taken over 18 months and the team is seeking further archive material from users of the new site.

A key part of the success of the project has been the partnership with Gloucestershire Archives. Many important documents are preserved in the Archives’ strongrooms and a group of dedicated volunteers has been transcribing and digitising material relating to the school.

The project was the brain child of former pupil Judith Ellis who is now chair of Chipping Campden History Society. She said: “I didn't think about it when I was at the school, but now I realise how important it is to save all our memories and photographs and documents for the future. It is so interesting to hear from fellow students and the website will enable us to reach out across the world."

Nerys Watts, head of Heritage Lottery Fund in the South West, said: “School days are said to be the happiest of our lives and they certainly have a profound influence on all of us. "We were delighted to be able to help Chipping Campden School to explore and record the fascinating memories of its former pupils, and to ensure that its long and distinguished history can be preserved for future generations.”

As part of the project Bill Jones, who celebrates his 101st birthday this month, returned to his old classroom to share his memories of going to school at Chipping Campden in the 1920s. The old school, in the High Street, is now privately owned.

Mr Jones said: “I remember the headmaster, Mr Matthew Cox standing at his desk, sternly watching as the boys and girls came in for assembly. Due to overcrowding, we had the use of Campden Town Hall as a classroom."

As well as a great deal of historical material and personal memories, the site gives users the chance to find old school friends in the Chipping Campden school alumni network. “I’m particularly excited about the alumni network,” said school principal John Sanderson. “We look forward to gathering a global community of ex Campden students online and at a series of reunion events in the coming months.” He added: “The team has done a remarkable job and we’re really thrilled to be launching this fabulous new site to mark our 575th anniversary.”

The new website can be found at www.chippingcampdenschool.org.uk.