As the signs were taken down and desks cleared for the last time, parents, teachers and staff at a Shropshire primary school came together to mark the “end of an era” as their school closed its doors after 36 years.

Oakland Primary School in Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, will be merged with Longmeadow Primary School, also in the village, from next term.

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Parents have expressed concern about the merger but the headteacher of Oakland said the last day yesterday was a time for looking forward.

Parent Suzanne Robinson, who has two children at the school, said: “I’m very sad. It’s the end of an era. The children are feeling a bit confused because they are leaving people behind.”

People who had a link to the school came together yesterday for a final emotional goodbye ahead of its closure. A new school called Oakmeadow will be built at the Longmeadow site and, during construction, Oakland will provide a base for the infants and Longmeadow for the juniors.

Nicola Jones, who has a daughter at the school, said: “I still have reservations. We feel they’ve just changed the name of Longmeadow but it’s the same school. We are just being slotted in.”

Ann Gibson, who has been headteacher of Oakland Primary for seven years, said they held a special assembly yesterday afternoon where Year 6 pupils put on a performance to mark the occasion. End-of-term awards were handed out and parents attended, then everyone sat down to afternoon tea together.

Mrs Gibson said: “I’m trying to focus on the happy memories not just from the school but from 30 years in teaching.”

She said she was going to be coming back to visit in October for the opening of the new school and she wished the headteacher of Longmeadow well.

She said: “Overall I’m feeling positive about it all, we have done everything we can to ease the transition for the children starting at their new school as that’s the most important thing. This week is about saying goodbye and then looking forward to the future.”