A TEAM of senior staff, teaching assistants and dinner ladies are set to leave school this term with a combined career history of nearly 150 years.

Ten members of staff are saying a fond farewell to Fromebank Junior and Cranleigh Court Infant schools this week, ahead of the amalgamation of the two schools next term.

Angela Higgs, a teacher for 23 years and headteacher at Cranleigh Court for 17, is retiring before the schools reopen as Tyndale Primary School in September.

She said: "The two schools have been working closely over the last year and are looking forward to building up their successes and working for the new primary school.

"Personally, I just feel so fortunate to have worked in such wonderful schools with really committed, dedicated and hardworking staff. I don’t think about them as colleagues but as friends.

"I have many very fond memories and the children have been a pleasure to teach."

Clerical assistant Pauline Powell, who started working at Fromebank as a dinner lady when her two children were at the school in 1977, is also hanging up her pencil case.

"I have enjoyed the buzz of the school and working with the children and my colleagues," she said.

"Many of the little ones I first worked with are now parents themselves.

"I have seen a lot of changes but sadly I feel now is the time to leave."

Alison Fairbairn, a teacher at Cranleigh Court for two decades and current deputy headteacher, and Philippa Lane, a teacher at Fromebank for 23 years, are both retiring.

Sarah Gibbs, a teaching assistant for six years at Cranleigh Court, and Lesley Ponsonby, a teaching assistant in the nursery for 11 years, are leaving to pursue other careers.

Finance officer for 12 years, Annette Hamlen, Mary Sharpe, a teaching assistant for 18 years, and former caretaker and dinner lady Pauline Bennett are also retiring from education.

Mrs Lane said: "We are all going to miss the children and the wider community.

"It has been such a happy environment to work in. We have always called ourselves the Fromebank family and it is just like one big happy family."

Fromebank Primary School first opened its doors in 1971 and became a junior school for seven to 11-year-olds when Cranleigh Court Infants opened in 1976.

South Gloucestershire Council announced it would review the two schools, in line with the authority’s policy, when the headteacher at Fromebank left two years ago.

The council found that the population of pre-school children in the area was not sufficient to warrant keeping both schools open and following a public consultation decided to amalgamate the schools as one primary school.

Eve Beeley was appointed as associate headteacher for the past two years to support the schools prior to the opening of Tyndale Primary School. She is also leaving this term and Jane Thomas, currently headteacher of Wrington Primary School in Somerset, will take over in September.

A number of celebrations to mark the end of an era at both schools are being held this week, including a concert and a garden party.