END of term celebrations were tinged with sadness at two city schools which have closed.
Victoria Infant School and St Thomas of Canterbury Blue Coat CE Junior School are to reopen in September as Chester Blue Coat CE Primary School, bringing an end to separate infant and junior schools in Cheshire.
To mark the end of an era both schools held a number of special events for pupils in the last week of term, culminating in church services and celebrations on the shared school field.
The infants enjoyed a visit and demonstrations from a circus skills performer, with pupils from nursery to Year 2 able to try their hand, while junior pupils took part in a talent contest, won by Maddie Stevens and Ellie Tyrrell.
St Thomas’s Year 6 leavers put on two performances of Joseph and his Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat for parents and fellow pupils, which played to packed audiences and rapturous applause under the musical direction of Year 6 teacher Kate Higgins.
The juniors also held a non-uniform day and fun day on the last day of term, with face painting, hair braiding, biscuit making, an obstacle course, maypole dancing, disco and a treasure hunt organised by staff.
The day ended with a ‘bubble extravaganza’ on the field to mark the end of the school’s 138 year history.
Also waving goodbye to the schools for the last time was retiring joint headteacher Trisha McGuirk, who has been head of Victoria Infant for 14 years and acting head of St Thomas’s Junior for two years.
Mrs McGuirk was presented with leaving gifts and tributes from pupils and staff at celebration services held at St Thomas’s Church, at which many of the children performed. Among the gifts was a giant book of memories compiled by the juniors, as well as garden equipment for her long-awaited new hobby.
The new school will be led initially by the current deputy heads, prior to the appointment of a permanent headteacher.
