HUNDREDS of pupils, staff and parents from the past and the present gathered at a school in Hatfield on Saturday to mark its 50th birthday

Former attendees and teachers, including the school’s first headteacher Mary Ashworth, mingled with the current crop of students during the celebration, which took place at Bishop’s Hatfield Girls’ School in Woods Avenue.

The school, which first opened as Hatfield Girls’ Grammar in 1960, marked the occasion with a lunch and an open afternoon for visitors, followed by an evening of live music and a firework display.

A portrait of Ms Ashworth, which was painted by sixth-former Hannah Pritchard, was also unveiled in the main hall.

Headteacher Theo Nickson, said: “The celebrations were a fantastic opportunity for past and present pupils and the local community to express their pride in the school, meet up with old friends and acknowledge the valuable contribution the school has made to the education of local girls.”

Deputy head Adrian Dudley, who coordinated the celebrations, said: “It was wonderful to see so many people here.

“Clearly Bishop’s holds a special place, not only among its pupils but in the local community too.”

Diana Press, who took over as head from Ms Ashworth in 1984 and is the current chairman of the school’s Old Girls Association, said: “Mary Ashworth founded the school and set the high standards that have been maintained for 50 years.

“All pupils, parents and staff, past and present, owe her a great debt of gratitude.”

MP Grant Shapps and Welwyn Hatfield mayor Howard Morgan also attended the birthday bash.