As staff looked back over the many generations of children that had passed through the school they were packing boxes to permanently close.

It comes after a decision by Herts County Council bosses to shut down six schools in Hemel Hempstead and pupils at Martindale will move to a new school opening in September on the site of Rossgate School, which is also closing.

But Elaine Capper, who has taught at Martindale for 15 years, says they are staying positive about the move.

"We had a 50th birthday party because we thought it would be nice to celebrate on a high rather than a low," she said.

The school, with the help of campaigning parents, had previously fought off closure in 1980 but this time education bosses refused to back down.

Site manager Tom McDougall has worked at Martindale in Boxted Road for more than 18 years and has decided not to move to the new school as he wants a fresh start.

"It's very emotional," he said.

When the school first opened in 1958 there was no uniform and many young families had recently moved from London to the new town of Hemel Hempstead.

The school started out on the Pixies Hill Primary School site in Hazeldell Road before moving to its present location in Warners End.

But what has changed the most over the years? During Mrs Capper's time she says it has been the rapid development in technology.

"I have children in my class who use Microsoft Publisher. They're ahead of me because they have had it from the beginning," she said.

"Children have access to laptops. When I came here it was BBC and Acorn computers and then we had PC's.

"Since I have been here we have gone through blackboards, whiteboards and now we are onto Smartboards."

The high-tech boards are linked up to computers and the internet.

Teachers also now wear special head sets linked up to sound equipment to ensure all children can hear during lessons.

The equipment will be transferred to the new school ready for the start of the autumn term.