The first Huddersfield school to teach pupils from pre-school to GCSE welcomed its first reception year pupils.

Royds Hall Community School took in its first 20 reception year pupils today.

The Paddock school, formerly Royds Hall High School, will be teaching pupils from reception year to GCSE year by 2020, making it the first ‘through-school’ in Kirklees.

This year’s reception class will learn in the newly converted ‘Old Mansion Building’ while a new primary school will be built on the grounds.

We asked you to send pictures of your children on their first day of school this week - and we had dozens! Take a look in the gallery below.

Work on the Royds Hall Community School 's primary school for 210 pupils is expected to start in January as part of a £5.5m project.

Another reception class will be added every September as the previous reception classes progress through years one to six until Royds Hall becomes a full through-school with over 1,000 pupils.

The primary school currently has four staff but more will be recruited as the number of pupils increases.

The founding of the through-school follows a merger with Beech Early Years Infant and Junior School, Golcar, which was approved by Kirklees councillors in July.

Teaching Assistant Rebecca Waddington with new pupils at Royds Hall Community School, Paddock.
Teaching Assistant Rebecca Waddington with new pupils at Royds Hall Community School, Paddock.

Reception year pupils each received a home visit from their teacher during the summer holidays.

They will start off part-time to help ease them into school life before attending full-time in two weeks.

Starting at a large school can be daunting for four-year-olds.

But Royds Hall Community School office manager, Joanne Clegg, said: “They loved it. There were no tears and they’ve played and interacted very well with the older students.

“The older students came over to read to them which they liked.”

Only 30 people commented on the Beech Early Years, Infant and Junior School and Royds Hall merger with 75% of parents in favour and no objections. Governors and staff also signalled support.

In July, Kirklees Cabinet also backed plans to bring Denby Dale Nursery and Gilthwaites First School together on to a single site for children aged two to 10.

No-one commented on the Denby Dale consultation so the nursery will move to the Gilthwaites site and the merger will be officially complete by January 1, 2015.