By Steph Johnson

Last updated 13:25, Thursday, 10 July 2008

Pupils at Kingmoor infant and junior schools in Carlisle are breaking up for the summer holidays two days early so that teachers can oversee the arrival of equipment from Belah School.

• View more pictures...

Problems: Maureen Wilkinson sees no need for the extra time

Staff at Kingmoor need to prepare for the September intake of pupils from Belah, which will shut next Tuesday.

Parents were told to make alternative arrangements for their children in a letter about four weeks ago but some are still annoyed by the news.

Speaking outside Kingmoor Infant School, mum Maureen Wilkinson, 47, said she saw no need for the extended break.

“The school holidays are long enough, there is plenty of time to do it,” she said.

“I think it will cause problems for the majority of parents who work.”

Claire Feeney, of Riverbank Court, said her mum had agreed to take care of her son and daughter who attend the school. But she said she thought it was an unnecessary inconvenience.

Other parents said an end to the school year on Wednesday would not affect them, but they sympathised with those who worked and would need to juggle their childcare.

Headteacher Sharon McGaffin said the decision to give pupils extra time off was normal practice in such situations as the work can’t be done when the children are around.

She added: “It’s part of a business and a business move is done in business time. We don’t want to leave Belah School with equipment at the end of the summer term.”

Belah pupils will visit Kingmoor Juniors next week. After putting on a performance with their new schoolmates they will switch uniforms and leave as Kingmoor children.

Former staff at Belah, which is merging with Kingmoor because of falling numbers, gathered at the school to reminisce yesterday afternoon.

North Cumbria Technology College in Harraby, St Aidan’s County High and Morton School will also close early next week to allow extra time for staff to prepare for the opening of the Richard Rose academies in September.