Children, parents and staff threw a farewell party to mark the end of a 105-year chapter in the life of a much-loved Kenley primary school.

Teachers and their pupils waved goodbye to Roke Primary School on the last day of term yesterday, ahead of its transformation into Harris Primary Academy Kenley over summer. 

Children donned their Roke uniforms one last time and enjoyed cake baked for the celebration at Southern Railway and Kenley Cricket Club, next door to the school in Little Roke Road. 

One of the organisers, parent Ruth Swain, 48, said: "We wanted to say goodbye to Roke and get together to move forward as a community. It was very much a celebration of what Roke was.

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Roke pupils with a special party cake

"It went very well and there were lots of people there."

Parents staged vehement opposition to Department for Education (DfE) plans, initially revealed in January, to force Roke to become an academy. 

They were also angry DfE, which said changes were necessary to improve standards, also refused to allow the primary to partner nearby Riddlesdown Collegiate. 

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Roke pupils with their parents outside school

But Ruth, whose nine-year-old son Joseph attends Roke, as did his three elder siblings, said: "What has happened, has happened. We are putting the past behind us and hopefully now moving onwards and upwards 

"There has been a lot of negativity surrounding Roke, which is not what is best for the children."

She added: "Some parents are a bit apprehensive about the new term but from what we have seen of the new headteacher, we have got what we were lacking."

Harris Primary Academy Kenley will open in September, with Kate Magliocco – former head at St Cyprian's Primary School in Thornton Heath - at the helm.

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Teachers, pupils and parents got together for the farewell bash at Southern Railway and Kenley Cricket Club


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