Wickham Court School in Layhams Road, West Wickham celebrated the start of its fifth academic year with a new venture.

The school has opened a co- educational senior department beginning with an intake of 13 pupils to Year 7.

A new class will be added each year finishing with Year 11 in 2010.

The head teacher, Mrs. Barbara Hunter said: "We are very excited about this new development as we feel there is a definite need for small, caring schools at a senior level.

"Our class sizes are small and the school has an obvious family atmosphere where all the staff and children know each other."

Wickham Court School first opened in September 2002 with nursery and primary departments and currently has 121 pupils between the ages of two and 12.