There were smiles and hugs, speeches and toasts and even perhaps a lump in the throat at the last ever Come Dine with Oakfield.

The school provides an alternative route through education and beyond for youngsters who don’t fit in well in mainstream schools. It is soon to merge with Swindon Borough Council’s Education Other Than At School (EOTAS) initiative, and its traditional end-of-year meal to thank supporters became a celebration of all it has done in the last decade.

And, in particular, its headteacher Kim Tupper, who is retiring at the end of the year.

As colleagues, staff, current and former pupils and dignitaries such as mayor of Swindon Kevin Parry attended to celebrate the school and her leadership, Mrs Tupper said: “ I don’t normally like talking about myself. I don’t like a lot of attention, but I’m feeling quite a lot of different emotions.

“I’m a little bit said to be leaving, of course I am, but I’m also extremely proud of what we’ve all achieved here in the last 10 years. This has been a very big part of my life for the last 10 years, and I’ve loved coming to work every day.

“It’s great to see everybody here – but for me its a celebration of the project here and what we do.”

Mrs Tupper’s co-head, Spencer Cutler, paid tribute to the woman who seems to be universally called 'Mrs T'.

He said: “I’ve worked with her for the last three years, and it’s been a superb time for me.

“She’s inspirational, she’s a real leader.

“She always looks for the best in everybody and then she tries to bring that best out of them.

“She’s a very empathetic person and she’s always got time to listen to the pupils and speak to them and really hear them. She’s a champion for the pupils here, she really is and is so passionate about the alternative provision of education for children who struggle in other schools.”

The buffet at the event had been prepared and cooked by pupils at the school in Marlowe Avenue, and had been paid for by the Friends of Oakfield.

Deputy headteacher Paul Rogers said: “A chapter in the Oakfiueld story is closing, with Mrs Tupper’s departure and the merger with EOTAS.

“But we are starting a new chapter now – and we’d like to thank everyone who has been so supportive over the last years, Swindon Borough Council, the mayor’s office, Swindon Town FC have always helped us and been very supportive. The Friends of Oakfield raised money to buy us a mini-bus, which is like a Rolls Royce to us.

“Thank you to everybody."