SOUTHEND High School for Girls has been at the heart of our seaside town for more than a century and has had some famous pupils.

Rachel Riley, who has gone on to become a household name due to starring on Countdown, attended the school, based in Southchurch Boulevard.

Southend High School for Girls celebrated its centenary in 2013 and has a rich history in academic studies, theatre, music and sports.

These photos from the Echo archive, showing school life in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, demonstrate just that.

Echo:

Dignitary - Southend High School for Girls pupils with Southend mayor Allan Cole in September 1992

From entertaining shows to winning silverware in competitions, Southend High School for Girls pupils have been keen to get involved in whatever is asked of them over the years.

You may even spot yourself during your school days!

Echo:

Careers - students Susan Davidson, Jina Batavia, Sonia Roberts and Ruth Hill with WHSmith manager Gerard Crawford at an insight to industry event in July 1990

Join us on a trip down memory lane by joining our ‘We grew up in Essex’ Facebook group. If you have old photos and stories to share with our readers, simply complete our online form.

Scroll down to see more eye-catching photographs of Southend High School for Girls and its pupils through the years.

Echo:

Letting their creative side run free - pupils designing record covers as part of a project in July 1989

Echo:

Business brains - members of a Southend High School for Girls team are able to celebrate and show off some silverware after winning an enterprise competition in July 1993

Echo:

Getting into character - students Katrina Makepeace-Lott, 17, and Wendy Ball, 17, rehearsing for a production in February 1980

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Echo:

Rehearsals - Southend High School for Girls pupils get involved in a scene from The Thwarting of Baron Bolligrew in March 1988

Echo:

Music - GCSE pupils Leeann Carr, Hannah Bucke, Julie Edmonds and Sarah Braybrook with teacher Alan Gardner in April 1989

Echo:

Charisma - an insight into the world of work session held at the school in July 1992

Echo:

Putting on a show - theatre assessor Maria Warner with Southend High School for Girls pupils before a production of Mind Games in February 1991

Echo:

Masterminds - a host of challenging questions are read out during a quiz event held at the Southend school in February 1976