TENS of thousands of students have passed through its corridors over the past five decades – including a footballer and a television presenter.

But this week, Bitterne Park School marked the end of an era.

Demolition crews began tearing down the school’s old building, six months after the first students moved into their new £22 million facility.

The move into the new modern building will allow the school to accommodate an extra 360 students.

But according to deputy head, Chris Whitbread, leaving behind their former 1960s built home has been an emotional experience for staff.

He said: “Yes, it has been sad.

“I’ve been in the old building a few times since it’s been stripped out and it’s sad to think of all that history, all of that hard work and all of that achievement.

“But unfortunately the school outgrew itself and the building.”

He added: “We’ve had some people who have worked in the school for a long time – 10, 15, 20 years.

“For them it was very sad leaving the old building and walking down the hill to the new building.”

It’s not just staff who have a long history with the old Bitterne Park School building.

Pamela Humphrys, 85, has lived opposite the Copsewood Road site for 65 years – before the school even existed.

She said: “I remember the school being built. It was a brick field before that.

“There used to be brambles running alongside and there were badgers in the banks”

Asked if she would miss the building, Mrs Humphrys, a retired book shop worker, said: “Not really.

“The parking is a lot better this end since they moved the school down the road.”

School bosses esimate around 40,000 students have been taught in the building since it was opened in 1965.

The first cohort consisted of 600 students in a four form entry.

More buildings were added as the years progressed, with additional building work, and by 1976 there were 1035 students on roll.

By 1998, the school’s capacity had reached 1,300 students, with 1,600 on the roll by the time the new school building was opened last year.

Famous names who have walked the halls as students over the years include ex-Tottenham Hotspur footballer, Darren Anderton, and wildlife presenter Chris Packham.

Demolition crews will now spend the next three months tearing down the old building.

School bosses expect the site to be handed back from developers, Kier, in September.

The space left behind will then become the school’s new playing field – with the former playing field now hosting the new school.

Mr Whitbread added: “It will be good to have the site back.

“We will also use the opportunity to improve our tennis court area.”

Trevor White, operations director for Kier Construction Southern, added: “We’re extremely pleased to have been involved with the development of the new Bitterne Park School.

“Using our extensive education experience and delivery of previous schools across the south, Bitterne Park was designed to meet the needs of the staff and students and we hope they all enjoy the new facility.”