‘Farewell’ to Sidmouth Infants School

Time travel heralds end of an era

AROUND 120 children travelled back in time as an end of year show marked the end of Sidmouth Infants School last Thursday.

Youngsters, parents and teachers all had a hand in The Lost Key - which charted the Manstone Avenue hub’s 72-year history with a series of musical medleys.

The institution will become part of Sidmouth Church of England Primary School when the new term starts in September.

Pupils from every class, including those from the Apple Tree Pre-School, chose a decade and travelled back in time in Dr Who’s Tardis as part of the show.

“It was a totally whole-school production. Everybody was involved,” said teacher Karen Somerfield.

“The children absolutely loved it. This was their big goodbye.

“We decided we were going to try and celebrate the end of the school and it changing into a new primary school.

“Sidmouth Infants was presented with a key in 1939, when it opened. It’s nowhere to be seen now so we explored that theme.”

Year Two children traditionally pen a story for the annual show and youngsters designed costumes and made their own props as part of the production.

Karen thanked Jan Rees, who helped create the script, and all those involved in the effort.

Sidmouth Infants School has been running since 1939.

“Seventy-two-years-old is a good age and I am sure we all have lots of happy memories from our time here,” said headteacher Hilary Williams, whose future is still uncertain.

“We are now looking forward to being Sidmouth Primary School in September and to all the exciting times ahead,” she added.

Sidmouth Infants, All Saints Infants and St Nicholas Junior schools will be merged into one from September.

The new school will operate from all three sites.