But two members of staff said to be "part of the fabric" of the school will not be putting their feet up.

French teacher and head of year seven Judith Smith, and head of maths Alison Alabaster, have stepped down after 35 and 36 years of service respectively.

Leading tributes, headteacher Julia Morris said: "These are outstanding contributions. We celebrate our 50th anniversary in September, and to be talking about 35 and 36 years gives an indication of just how important to the fabric of the school they have been."

She told how Mrs Smith had played a crucial role for three decades of Kineton's youngest pupils, helping to ensure a smooth passage from primary to secondary school. The headteacher added: "She may be retiring, but I don't think that means she will be taking it easy - she's just not the type."

Mrs Smith, who plans to resume her long lapsed piano studies, said: "I think I have inducted between 4,500 and 5,000 pupils into the school and I will miss that a great deal. In fact, I may do something working with young people - maybe some primary supply teaching. After all, I can't clean the house every day!

"Kineton has been a very happy, warm place and I have never wanted to be anywhere else."

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Meanwhile, the commitment of colleague Mrs Alabaster was noted as both impressive and increasingly rare - the Stratford resident having joined the Banbury Road staff straight from teacher training at Oxford.

Mrs Morris added: "What she has brought has been immeasurable - a good word for a mathematician!"

Mrs Alabaster said she didn't like the word "retirement" and was instead planning to "increase her leisure time" - though she admitted she might have to compromise a passion for horse riding in the short term due to a recently-replaced hip.

She also had a few thoughts for new minister for children, schools and families, Ed Balls.

The keen gardener said: "I've always said I like teaching, but not always being a teacher. There's a subtle distinction. I like the process of people learning and I will miss the contact with students. But I won't miss the administration and endless initiatives.

"There has been too much tinkering, too much interference and too many ministers who feel they have to make statements to justify their positions.

"One of the most useful things the government could do would be to slow down the changes. I've seen so many initiatives come back around again and I don't mind being measured, so long as they don't keep changing how they do it.

"Staying at Kineton for so long wasn't a conscious thing - but it is a friendly place and the years have flown by. I have a new hip, a new start and I am looking forward to it."