AN independent Christian school in Worcester has held a reception to

celebrate the 20th anniversary of its opening.

Graham Coyle, the

former headteacher of the River School and now its head of development, said the institution had gone from strength to strength

in the two decades since it was founded.

He said "Over the last 20 years we have grown and developed. We started off with simple beginnings - 34 pupils and four staff. Today, we have 160 pupils, 15

full-time staff and twice as many part-time staff."

Mr Coyle claimed the growth of the school, which is in Droitwich Road, was not solely down to

providing quality education, but was a direct result of its religious beliefs.

He said: "We are a Christian school and we have a distinctive ethos which we find people warming to."

He added that the school would continue to develop.

Plans include the school's nursery and infants school, in St George's Walk, Barbourne, moving to a site on the school grounds, due to happen in the summer.