VILLAGE schools kicked off the new term without a hitch in Burley-in-Wharfedale despite upheavals caused by the massive education shake-up.

Blackboards, desks and chairs were in place as pupils and staff arrived for the first day of term at the newly-named Burley Oaks Primary School, in Langford Lane.

The former Burley C of E First School settled into the old Burley Middle School site and pupils were welcomed without difficulty.

Staff had worked around the clock to ensure that everything was ready for the first day of teaching.

New head teacher, Roy Palace, paid tribute to his staff: "We have managed a very smooth start to the school year. It is the result of a lot of planning and hard work from a lot of people.

"It was not an easy process. There was a great number of boxes to unpack and whole rooms of furniture to sort out. But there has been a real sense of team work by staff and parents have been really co-operative.

"Pupils seem to have settled in very well indeed. We are very pleased." A host of alterations were carried out over the summer, such as new carpets and the creation of an IT department.

Various adjustments, such as lowering coat pegs, have also been put in place for younger children.

Mr Palace said he was looking forward to the challenges ahead and taking the school into a new era.

Nearby Burley Woodhead C of E school also reported a smooth start to the term.

The school has retained its building but has had two new classrooms built to cope with the extra number of pupils, as the Bradford schools revert to a two- tier system.

The head teacher, Susan Asset, was said to be 'unavailable to comment'.