Teachers, staff, parents and children gathered at the 130-pupil Stetchworth Road school for a circus-theme celebration to mark the event.

The money, which will go towards books for Key Stage learning, was raised from the sale of advertising in a professionally produced programme and ticket sales to a circus.

There was also a barbecue, circus bazaar, sweet stall, face painting and a raffle and some of the children dressed up as clowns and learned circus tricks, including performing with diablos, juggling and plate spinning.

The flagship event of the school's anniversary was a performance from Happy's Circus, which encouraged the audience to get involved in its acts.

"They were just amazing," said Nicci Barrett, of the school's Parent Teacher Friends' Association, which co-ordinated the event.

Kettlefields was opened in 1990 following the closure of schools in Stetchworth and Dullingham.