Nostalgia: Old photos of Philip Morant School in Colchester

It's been a busy summer break for the team at Philip Morant School, in Rembrandt Way.

Its school hall has had a total revamp which has seen the floorboards ripped up and the iconic stage ripped out.

Ahead of the start of the new school year, we've taken a dive into our archives to reminisce on our memories of the huge school, which has the largest enrolment in Colchester.

The school first opened in the 1960s and Bill Burton was its first headteacher, staying in the post until his retirement 20 years later.

Since then it has been through several changes to the premiership, with pupils from the 2000s being taught under the leadership of Russell Moon and, later, Sue Cowans.

On camera - Headteacher Russell Moon was interviewed by the Newsnight team (Image: Steve Argent)

Roger Abo Henrisken took over the role in 2011 before handing the baton over to Catherine Hutley - whose controversial "no homework" policy made national headlines.

Today the school is led by executive headteacher Scott Holder and head of school Stephanie Neill.

In September 2001, the school added trousers to its girls' uniform for the first time, bowing to pressure from parents and pupils.

Mix and match - Anna Melrose and Emily Hall showed off the new uniform choices in 2001 (Image: Steve Argent)

In the same month, the school appeared on BBC's Newsnight programme to illustrate how the then-Labour Government believed education should be delivered across the country.

Over the summer holidays former pupils were invited to share their career journeys to be placed on the wall of the newly redesigned school hall.