IT is the end of an era for two Middlewich schools that are due to merge after Christmas.

Cledford Junior School and Cledford Infant and Nursery School will amalgamate after the Christmas period and three long-serving members of staff are moving on for pastures new.

Much-loved bursar Wendy Deakin is retiring after 33 years at the junior school in George VI avenue along with Year Three teacher Norma Bailey and headteacher Chris Bentley, who is leaving to become a lecturer.

Grandmother-of-two Wendy, 64, who was awarded an MBE in 2007, said: “It’s going to be very different for me because I’ve been here for 33 years.

“I’ve enjoyed my time here enormously and it’s been a real privilege to work with the staff, all the parents and the governors and of course the children.

“I am looking forward to my retirement, but I will miss everyone here because we are just like one big happy family.”

Headteacher Mr Bentley, 53, has been at the school for seven years and said the last few weeks have been very emotional.

“Obviously I’m going to miss it,” he said.

“It’s quite sad at the moment because everything we are doing – like singing in the church – is for the last time.

“I’m going to miss the wonderful working atmosphere that we have got here and that will be very difficult to replace.”

The two schools will initially remain in their respective buildings until an extension is built on the junior school grounds to accommodate the extra pupils.

Mr Bentley, who is set to be a lecturer in education studies at Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “I’m looking forward to the future, but it’s with great sadness that I leave.

“The school is in for some big changes but we have been preparing for the past six months. We knew it’s been coming and we have been working very hard to prepare staff, pupils and parents and now they are ready to hit the ground running.

“I’m certain that with all the hard work that has been put in it will be very successful and something to look forward to.”