Preparations are well underway for the sesquicentenary of the Kelly’s Plains Public School this weekend.

The 150-year anniversary will be marked with a launch of a book of the school’s history, a play by current students following the story of the School’s principals, and bus tours of the district.

President of the Armidale and District Historical Society, Judy Grieve, whose five children attended the school, says the school has survived because it is unique.

“It’s pretty incredible that that school has remained as a school so close to Armidale, but at one stage it was a Demonstration School for the Armidale Teaching College,” she said.

“It was a one teacher school for many years, and it’s now a two teacher school, so it still is pretty special.”

An Armidale historian says children have benefited from the unique teaching environment of the Kelly’s Plain’s Public School for 150 years, and she hopes it continues for many years to come.

Judy Grieve says the school has nurtured many children.

“It’s like a big family, the bigger children and the smaller children are not isolated into age groups, they’re all just together,” she said.

“The big kids understand the needs of the little children and the parents are all inter-communicating, so it’s just got a wonderful atmosphere and I honestly believe it’s got huge benefits.”