MORE than 500 Year 6 children attended the first-ever diocesan school leavers' service at Salisbury Cathedral on Wednesday last week.
Students from 26 church schools in Wiltshire and Dorset came together to celebrate their time at primary school and look ahead to moving into secondary education this September.
Simon Tong, director for the diocesan board of education, said: "This idea is new to the Salisbury Diocese and was welcomed by all our schools - we were over subscribed within 48 hours of the invitation going out!"
The Bishop of Salisbury, the Right Reverend David Stancliffe, presided at the cathedral service.
Each school was accompanied by parents, teachers and governors, and schools took along specially made banners, which were paraded during the service.
Each student was given a red-and-gold bookmark to commemorate the day.
Mr Tong said: "It will help everyone to think about how their primary years have been a preparation for the next stage in life's journey."
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