THEY have been together for five years and were looking forward to a day of tearful goodbyes, signing each others shirts and bidding their school a fond farewell.

It is a tradition that goes back through generations of youngsters at a Southampton school.

But this was not the case for the teenagers at St Anne’s Catholic School, whose leaving day was cancelled at the last minute.

However, the pupils were not going to give it up without a fight and almost 100 marched on the school, in Carlton Road, in fancy dress some as sailors, policewomen and pirates.

The chanting protesters made their way up from the Southampton Central Station, through Bedford Place and on to the school waving banners and singing songs.

The Year 11 pupils told the Daily Echo they had been looking forward to their leaving day all year and felt they were being denied the chance to say goodbye to their favourite friends and members of staff.

The teenagers say they were due to celebrate their last day yesterday.

However, on Friday afternoon they were given letters to take home and parents were sent a mass text message telling them school had ended.

One pupil said: “We have been going here for five years only to be lied to like this. We have come here in revenge for that and to see our friends on the last day.

“The leavers day is usually a dress down day where everyone gets their shirts signed, says goodbye to people and has fun.”

Another said: “The last day is usually a chance to say goodbye to all the friends you’ve made and the teachers. That’s been taken away from us.”

A third added: “I think it’s disgusting they have just tried to take our leaving day away from us. That’s why we have all turned out to protest like this.”

They sang for half an hour then went into the school and were allowed to say goodbye to teachers before meeting together at Southampton Common for a picnic.

Head teacher Beverley Murtagh said: “We are aware that some girls in Year 11 were unhappy about being released to have some study leave a day earlier than they originally thought.

“They had a leavers assembly and a variety of celebrations throughout the week including some who had a party on Wednesday evening and a rounders match against staff on Thursday.

“They will have plenty of opportunity to share memories and say goodbyes after the examination period when we have planned a trip to Thorpe Park and finally they will have a joint prom with St George School.”

She went on to say she didn’t want anything to distract them in the run up to their exams that start today.