Thetford Grammar School, which has around 200 pupils, will shut at the end of this term after almost 14 centuries of education at the site.

It is thought that the school's origins lie in around AD 631, when Sigbert, King of the East Angles, is likely to have provided a school for his court in Thetford.

Thetford Grammar School has 14 centuries of history (Image: Sonya Duncan)

The medieval school was closely connected with the church, with part of the present site sitting on a 14th‑century Dominican Friary.

Among its most famous alumni is Thomas Paine, the radical writer and political thinker whose works, such as “Rights of Man”, helped shape the American and French revolutions.

He attended the school between 1744 and 1749.

Thomas Paine attended the school in the 1700s (Image: Sonya Duncan)

Earlier pupils are said to include Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk and commander at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, and Francis Blomefield, an important early historian of Norfolk.

In 1888, Thetford Grammar School for Girls was established on an adjacent site, which merged with the original school in 1975.

Here is a look back at some moments from the school's more recent history.

Pupils who won an I-Spy award in 1955 (Image: Newsquest)

Peter Harwood planting a tree in 2004 dedicated to his wife Margaret who was a former Chairman of Governors (Image: Newsquest)

Status Quo's Jeff Rich gave a drum masterclass to pupils in 2001 (Image: Newsquest)

GCSE history pupils with the plaque commemorating the two Battle of Britain airman and old boys of the school, presented by Mark Andrew, right, of the Battle of Britain historical society, and Ken Pugh of the Freedom Group of Companies in 2003 (Image: Denise Bradley)

Pupils from Thetford Grammar School with horse from carousel at Pleasurewood Hills Theme Park ready to be repainted 2011 (Image: Newsquest)

Students from Thetford Grammar School performed in High School Choir Festival Concert at St Andrew's Hall, Norwich 2014 (Image: Simon Finlay)

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