PUPILS and staff have said goodbye to Mountjoy School in Bridport with a party to mark the last day in the Flood Lane buildings.

Removal lorries have been busy transporting the contents of the school, which caters for children with physical and learning disabilities, to the new buildings in Beaminster where the first lessons will take place on Monday November 5.

The school has been in Bridport for 45 years and a celebration was held for former staff and students who were invited to share their memories.

The current pupils then enjoyed a party – entertained by Graham Rosamond who has played guitar there every year since the school opened.

Headteacher James Franzen said that the youngsters had enjoyed sharing their last day of learning and fun at the Bridport Mountjoy.

“The next time they go to school it will be in Beaminster and they are excited about the new school. Most of them have had the chance to go there and have a look round and everyone is very enthused about it.”

The budget for the new Mountjoy on the Beaminster School campus is just under £9million. The new school is built for 48 pupils and is nearly four times bigger. The school will provide state-of-the-art learning facilities including a sensory studio, a media studio, a soft play room and a sensory hydrotherapy pool with outside space almost ten times the size of the current playground.