Former pupils say fond farewell to 1930s school before major rebuild

A £2.5 million rebuild will start at Wood End Primary School in Wednesfield on January 4 - so staff organised an open day to give people a last look at the buildings where classes have been held since 1938 before they meet the bulldozer.

The 250 pupils and 35 staff will continue teaching at one half of the premises while the rest is demolished to make way for the new school where everybody will move on completion of the work to allow the remainder of the original school to be levelled.

Robert Simmons was keen to be there for one final time after being among the children who were there when it opened. The 85-year-old from Whitehouse Crescent, Ashmore Park, who ran his own tool company after working in local factories, said: "I had a happy time here. It put me on the right path but I have not been back since I left so I thought I would take one last look around when I had the chance. To be honest it does not look a lot different."

Former British Gymnastics champion Hayley Price is another former pupil with a lot to thank the school for. Now 48 and living in Cheltenham with her husband, she made life-long friends with Julie Wollam and Joanne Johnson who were part of the Wood End gym team that repeatedly won the Wolverhampton Primary School Championships from 1974 to 77.

Hayley - now Mrs Ashley - was British Champ from 1983 and appeared in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics along with two European and three World Championships. She was joined by her two friends at the open day and said: "My legs turned to jelly when I walked back through the gates. It was like my first day at school all over again. A teacher called Mr Jones took me to my first gymnastics trial. My two friends both carried on the PE as teachers. This school started our love for it."

Julie - now Mrs Slater - is deputy headteacher at a school in Cheslyn Hay while Joanne - now Mrs Johnson - is a teaching assistant.

Both agreed: "We all met at the age of four, loved it here and have been friends ever since. We meet up for a Christmas lunch every year and this time it coincided with the open day, so it was perfect timing."

Former pupil Midge Richards, now 68 and living in Sydney, came half way round the world for her last view of the old school where she had been known by her maiden name of Harris. She had come to spend Christmas with her 76-year-old sister Maureen Watts who also went to Wood End Primary and lives a little closer at Parker Road, Ashmore Park. Mrs Ricahrds said: "I have lovely memories of the place but I do not remember it being nearly as big as this."

Her sister added: "The school gave us a good start in life and it is nice to see it one last time before it is lost for ever."

June Hickman, nee Rock, aged 59 was going to Wood End when the last building work was done there. "I remember the two storey classroom block being built and also recall with pleasure the sports days and nativity plays. From the outside it hasn't changed at all."

Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds dropped in to praise the Priority School Building programme that it funding the redevelopment work and said: "It will be a fantastic opportunity for the community. The new building proves the commitment to this area and shows people are interested in its community which is good news for children and adults alike."

Headteacher Mrs Dianne Blower added: "We are updating the setting of the school while maintaining its positive ethos. There is much more to a school that just the four walls and classrooms.

Chairman of the governors Derek Wollam commented: "My children and grandchildren were taught here. I love the old buildings but we were having a lot of maintenance issues. After the rebuild there will be room to expand the school if that is necessary in the future."

Mrs Sara Harris, who has taught at the school since graduating in 2004 and is now deputy head, concluded: "It warms your heart to see so many former pupils coming back and saying how happy they were here. It reminds people that a school is not just a little island. It is part of the community and there is a lot more to it than reading and writing. It shapes the future of children."