Generations of pupils and staff came together to say farewell to an Oxford school which will close its doors next month.

Peers School, in Sandy Lane West, Littlemore, will reopen as the city's first academy in September and its 40-year history was marked at an on-site party on Friday.

The school's five surviving headteachers took centre stage as hundreds of pupils past and present reminisced about teachers, trips and trigonometry.

A commemorative book, Peers School: A Comprehensive with a Difference, was unveiled by its author, former Cherwell School headteacher Martin Roberts, as 1,000 free copies were handed out.

Mr Roberts admitted he was initially reluctant to undertake the work, but said: "I thought Peers is such an interesting place. It was always doing something new and interesting.

"I did find it, as time passed, quite a melancholy experience because Peers was, and remains, a very vibrant school, full of remarkable teachers and pupils. I really do hope, in the years to come, that vitality and commitment does survive."

A letter from Charles Peers, the son of Jack Peers - after whom the school is named - was read out.

Expressing his regret that the celebration clashed with a holiday, Mr Peers wrote: "In the normal course of events, wild horses would not have kept me from attending.

"We have all been through a lot together - sometimes good, sometimes not so good.

"Peers has always appeared to come through smelling of roses. Now, unfortunately, when the decisions have been made by others, this rose has been allowed to wilt."

Former pupil Sarah Whistler, 21, from Blackbird Leys, said: "It is very strange to be back. I have a lot of good memories from here and I am quite sad that all of that will be gone."

Beverley Elliott, who attended Peers from 1975-78, was at the party with her sisters Mandy, Tiffany, Lisa and Caroline.

She said: "We had some great times here and it was a good school. I remember doing cross country to raise money for the swimming pool when it was built."

Lisa, who was at the school from 1983-87, said: "We had a lot of fun here. I remember all the dance shows we used to do, when the squash courts were new and when they opened a restaurant in school."

Tara Best, from Littlemore, was at Peers between 1986 and 1991. She said: "I have got some great memories from here.

"My daughter will be going to the new academy so I am looking forward to seeing what will happen next."

Her friend, Susan Butler, added: "I am pleased to see some money going into it, but even if they call it an academy it will always remain as Peers."