THESE were the last in a long line of children to attend Iffley School in Oxford.

They were presented with Bibles by the vicar and his wife on the day the school closed in 1961.

Village children had been taught there for more than 100 years.

But by 1961, a new primary school had been built on the neighbouring Rose Hill estate and the number of children being taught at Iffley had dwindled.

The youngsters in the first picture were the only ones still attending classes there when the doors closed for the last time.

The school had opened as a national school in 1838, in a building which is now the church hall.

Over the next 123 years, hundreds of village children were taught there.

The picture above was sent in by Kathleen Cullen, of Lenthall Road, Rose Hill, whose four children, Richard, Michael, Julia and David, were pupils.

Mrs Cullen tells me that the May Day celebrations at the school were particularly impressive.

She writes: “The girls would have flowers in the hair, and the boys would carry garlands on long poles.

“They all went for a church service in the morning. The mothers went as well.

“Then they would dance round the village and collect money for their May Day tea, which was held on Mrs Englefield’s lawn.

“The school sports day was also held there at the end of the summer term.”

The other pictures were taken in 1952, when the school was much busier.

They show Mrs Harman’s class and the youngest class taught by Miss Schoones.

Do you recognise yourself or anyone else? Any memories of Iffley School to share with readers? Let me know.