CHILDREN in schools across York and North Yorkshire finished the school year with a series of plays and concerts, a number of charity events and some farewell presentations for staff who were leaving.

At Tang Hall Primary School, York, pupils gave several performances of the Wizard of Oz for parents and friends.

At Tadcaster East Primary School pupils went back to the 1950s to wow audiences with their production of Grease.

Main choreographer, teacher Philip Wright, said: "Just after starting rehearsals I had to go into hospital to have my tonsils out and then we had an Ofsted inspection. It left us with only four weeks for rehearsal but the children worked really hard and other members of staff helped out. It was a real team effort."

At Fulford School, York, pupils performed Willy Russell's Our Day Out as part of their end-of-term celebrations. The Year 9 pupils spent only a week on rehearsals, before performing in front of parents and other pupils.

At the Acorn Nursery, at Clifton, Anne Reavill and Hazel Bramall were retiring after 18 years' service.

One parent, Sue Doughty, said the pair had a magical way with children. "It was like having a pair of Julie Andrews in the room when they were there," she said.

At All Saints' RC School, York, farewells were said for the head teacher, Dr Adrian Elliott.

Pupils cheered and applauded him, then surprised him with a video presentation in the style of the Through The Keyhole TV series.

After 18 years at the school, Dr Elliott is leaving to train new head teachers.

At Burnholme Community College, York, there was a surprise visit from the director of York City Knights, Roger Dixon, as the college said farewell to the head of PE, Dennis Barden, who was retiring after almost 40 years.

At Headlands Primary School, Haxby, York, teacher Therese Comfort said goodbye to staff and pupils as she left the school to start a new career.

She pioneered the teaching of French at primary school age and in her new job she will be a language teachers' adviser at The Centre for Information on Language Teaching and Research, in Leeds.

Updated: 08:37 Tuesday, July 22, 2003