For the new school starters yesterday, there may have been a few tears and worried faces, but the majority of children across the Island were excited and happy to return to the classroom following their ten-week summer break.

Thousands of youngsters, dressed in smart new uniforms and with renewed enthusiasm, poured back through the school gates ready to get hard at work for the new term.

But among those children who did not return yesterday were pupils at Spice Valley Middle School in Warwick, who have an additional week of holiday while the refurbishment work is completed on the building.

And both CedarBridge Academy and Berkeley Institute saw the return of only some of their pupils yesterday, preferring instead to operate a staggered start to the term over the first three days of the week, so different year groups can settle in more easily and get greater attention.

Yesterday was also a big day for head teacher O'Brien Osbourne, who has taken over the helm of Prospect Primary School.

The former deputy principal of West Pembroke Primary School said last night that his first official day had gone swimmingly and said he was most impressed by his students.

Mr. Osbourne said: "I have just finished my first official day and my first official meeting and I have really enjoyed it. The kids were great and were settled in very quickly. Everyone was rejuvenated and looking forward to the change.

"The Primary One pupils took it all in their stride. There was one little girl who cried this morning, but she was certainly settled by recess break. You would have thought they had been here long ago."

But with new uniforms at Prospect Primary this year, it was a whole new start for everyone. The boys wore navy shorts, instead of the previous khaki, and the girls were yesterday in plaid skirts. "The children were looking very smart. They were all looking quite lovely."

The new headteacher said his objective was to be firm but fair, and said literacy and reading would be where the emphasis is.

He added: "We will be learning to read, and reading to learn."

Picture: Mother Lanice Hollis gives Kewshon Woods-Hollis some words of encouragement on the first day of school at Port Royal Primary School. Photo by Tony Cordeiro