IT was a landmark first day back for teachers and pupils at one Worcester primary following a successful school merger.

More than 600 youngsters arrived looking smart in their jerseys and yellow shirts at newly-formed Northwick Manor Primary School, yesterday.

Worcestershire County Council opted to merge the old infant and junior schools, in Northwick Road, earlier this year, with staff and council officers successfully completing an ambitious transfer plan during the summer break.

Five new staff members have joined the school, and during the summer both the office and staff-room were enlarged and a new mobile classroom installed.

Efforts have paid off as pupils enjoyed a hitch-free first day as new headteacher Sian Williams explained.

“The children started really well and, as I said to the teachers, you would not think there were two separate groups of staff, “ she said.

“It’s gone better than we first expected – without a hitch.”

Staff members went to a joint team-building day at the Bishop’s Wood Centre, in Stourport, on Tuesday and thrashed out the final logistics on Wednesday before the schoolchildren’s first day.