Now and then

Former teacher George Plemper's photographs became a web sensation last month when SocietyGuardian told the story of his striking images of 1970s life in south London Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

A keen amateur photographer, Plemper captured daily life around the Thamesmead estate Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

His images included dozens taken during a two-year stint as a science teacher at the Riverside School in Thamesmead Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

The photographs had been left in carrier bags for decades Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

But Plemper's images are now collected on his Flickr page Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

Thirty years on, the site of Riverside School is now home to Bexley Business Academy, where classes include hair and beauty Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

Trust Thamesmead arranged for Plemper to visit the academy and photograph the students, just as he had captured the Riverside pupils before them Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

An exhibition of Plemper's original images, along with some of his more recent photographs, went on show at the academy Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

The opening of the exhibition coincided with local history month and was attended by a number of former Riverside teachers and students Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

Many of the former Riverside pupils now have children who are pupils at the academy, or have gone on to teach there Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

Plemper said: "Lots of people had said that it would be impossible to go into the school today and take photos like I did in the 1970s and I wanted to see if that was true." Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

He added: "My aim was to get just one photograph that would strike a chord with people, or, failing that, at least show that children today are just as worthwhile as they were in the 70s." Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper

The Trust Thamesmead chair, Jackie Smith, said: “George's photos captured a moment in time, but also showed us how children really haven't changed much at all." Photograph: George Plemper/George Plemper