A Bradford secondary school is calling on its past students to get in touch and share their memories as it prepares to set up its alumni.

Since Tong High School opened in September 1964, originally known as Tong Comprehensive, it has seen thousands of students pass through its doors and has turned out many successful people.

Now, almost 50 years later, the school wants to reconnect with its past students.

As well as networking purposes, the alumni will offer an opportunity for past students to reunite and share their stories while inspiring existing pupils.

The school hopes the alumni will be representative of students from 1964 onwards.

The school’s past pupils include a number of well-known names including One Direction band member Zayn Malik, Shabir Hussain, chief executive and owner of Akhbar’s, Bradford Bulls forward John Bateman, Aston Villa midfielder Fabian Delph and actor Aqib Khan, who made his screen debut in the 2010 film West is West.

Head teacher Steve Curran said: “As a school we’ve always encouraged every single one of our students to reach their full potential and recognise that their time at Tong High School is only the beginning.

“We believe in the power of partnership, working together to create long-lasting relationships with the local community, primary schools, local businesses and organisations.

“We are hopeful that past students will join our Tong High School Alumni, bringing together individuals’ experience and expertise to help create the region’s leading learning environment.”

The school was named among the country’s 100 most-improved schools for two years running and received personal congratulations from Schools Minister Nick Gibb because of its progress in English and maths GCSE results based on grades A* to C between 2008 and 2011.

If you went to Tong Comprehensive or Tong High School e-mail office@ths.bradford.sch.uk with the subject line ‘Alumni.’ Visit tongschool.co.uk/alumni.htm or call (01274) 681455 for more information. Once the names and details of past students have been collected the school hopes to unveil its alumni in the summer.

* Fans will have more chances to meet their One Direction idols after their wax figures went on show at Madame Tussauds in London. After months of work by sculptors and stylists even the chart-topping group were impressed by the results.

Zayn said: “They look wicked, they’re bang on.”