A LINK between two schools which has spanned 20 years is drawing to a close.
The link was set up in 1986 to enable pupils of Highfields School, Edgerton, and St Patrick's RC Primary School, Birkby, to work together.
It aimed to help children with special educational needs and their mainstream peers to learn together, share experiences and raise awareness in each school community.
Highfields School will close this summer and pupils will move to a new purpose-built school, Castle Hill, at Newsome. They will be joined there by pupils from Turnshaws School, Kirkburton.
Rosie Murphy, teacher at Highfields, said the link had been highly successful, partly because of the location of the two schools; St Patrick's pupils could walk to Highfields.
"The link aimed to create a shared learning experience and shared resources to enrich the curriculum for both sets of pupils and develop awareness of disability for teachers and pupils," she said.
Six Year 6 children from St Patrick's have made weekly visits to Highfields but other year groups have been involved over the two decades.
Pupils have been linked with a child at Highfields and given "buddy books" containing information about them.
The St Patrick's pupils spent the afternoon with their friend and helped them with their work.
They have even learned sign language to communicate with some of the children at Highfields.
Over the years pupils have taken part in many joint activities including museum visits, arts, crafts and music activities, visiting the school garden, assemblies and concerts.
