Up to September 1970, new entrants into the 1st year had informal assessment tests shortly after term began, and all forms were ability groups, taking their title from the inital letter of the form teacher's surname. From September 1970, the testings on entry were discontinued, ailocations being made by Mr. Roberts on the basis of the Primary School record card. However, this system proved at times to be misleading, particularly with so many contributory schools-48 in 1968, when the entry was just under 200. By 1973, professional discussions ranged over the need for or wisdom of "mixed ability" groups, and this led to further changes, which are referred to later. From the beginning, a normal system of school examinations was instituted (twice a year for 1st to 4th years inclusive). Reports were issued twice a year, with the report sheets (in duplicate, with one copy for the folder) including term marks, examination marks and teachers' comments. Soon a system of more informal mid-school year examinations was introduced, taken in class time. Assessment grades were used on the reports, a copy of which was sent to parents with a returnable receipt slip attached. Inter-form transfers occasionally took place, but generally at the end of the school year, when Year Tutors, in consultation with colleagues, compiled form lists for the next school year. The 5th and 6th forms had their traditional "Mock" examinations in January/February.

A subject option system operated from the end of the 3rd year, when subject "sets" and groups were arranged for the two year external examination course. 241 boys and girls began a 4th year in September 1968, and 137 began a 5th year. Option patterns had to be varied from year to year according to staff availability, numbers, subject popularity, and time-tabling problems. Heads of Departments met frequently to discuss the option pattern. English and Mathematics were "setted" completely after the 2nd year, as was French, although this subject was then discontinued for some. For those able and intending to leave at Easter or Midsummer from the 4th year, and the less able ones, special courses in Craft, Science and Social Studies were devised, including an effort in these years to develop a Humanities course out of Geography, History and R.l. Studies. In addition to having small remedial forms, taught as much as possible by specialists, arrangements were made for "withdrawal" lessons, including arrangements for those for whom English was a second language. Gradually, these pupils were integrated into form or "sets" as necessary. The numbers of these "immigrant" children grew quickly. By 1968/69, the annual return to the Department about such pupils showed a figure of 10%. In 1972 it had doubled to 21.4%.

From the beginning, the school had frustrating problems with playing field accommodation. As mentioned earlier, much of Nicholls field was unusable. Levenshulme Cricket field was to be an alternative temporary site, but that was out of use for a year from March 1967. Girls had the use of the Duchess of York Field in Burnage although the changing facilities were completely inadequate, and some football games were played at Hough End fields. Naturally, as much use as possible was made of indoor facilities, including St. Matthew's Church Hall. The improvement plan for Nicholls field began in 1969, and a "red gra" area was set up and the hard court area effectively netted. A major boost was given by the setting up of a Sports Centre in Ardwick Drill Hall from September 1971. Here, many facilities, shared with other schools, became available both in and out of school time and by this time there was little cause for complaint, although maintenance of the field did give concern at times.

The first major building change carried out after re-organisation occurred in September 1968, when there was a complete withdrawal from Bank Meadow Centre. All facilities there were transferred to the Senior School, with new craft rooms and workshop established in "A" Building. Some items of equipment had been transferred by Mr. Allardice, his colleagues and senior boys at the end of the summer term, and the move was completed during the holidays. There were no regrets on leaving the "Meadow". It was an outpost which the school was glad to surrender to the demolition contractors. From 1968, there were improvennents to the Art and Craft facilities on the top corridor ("H" Building) by making the former Needlework Room into a second Art Room and transferring Needlework across the corridor into one of the housecraft rooms. More toilet and cloakroom accommodation was provided in the Junior School. Improvements to the stage in "N" Hall were made in January 1969, by which time both "N" and "A" buildings had been painted. By 1972 the 6th form Centre had been modernised, providing a social area with refreshment facilities, a study area which also served for tutorial groups and individual study cubicles in their library. The 6th Form Committee had negotiated the loan of a vending machine for beverages, and they had a tuck shop, the profits from which helped them to buy certain amenities. They bought a boat, to be repaired and reconstructed, which was squeezed into the then empty Room AA10. This project survived for a while and gave pleasure in the work to some, but the only journey it made was when sold, still not sea-worthy, to a dealer. Pressure on the main office was eased when a Registrar's room was established for Mrs Leech out of what had been a stockroom. This room was off the small corridor leading from the entrance foyer, conveniently placed between the main office and the Headmaster's room. As part of this development, the toilet suite adjacent to the Headmaster's room was modernised and a new stockroom created on the top floor. Also in this area, a very useful medical inspection room was built out of what had been an open cloakroom area.

The area between "A" and "H" buildings (formerly Tiverton Street) was enclosed-the area beyond was by now a large expanse of open grassland. The area clearance scheme had also left a similar grassy open space in the area towards Ardwick Green, bounded by Devonshire Street, Hyde Road and Stockport Road. For some time St. Matthew's Church buildings had survived, but eventually, they too were demolished and the original school building disappeared. Yet as old buildings disappeared, new ones were planned. The Education Committee had to consider the replacement of the now very old buildings. During Mr. Peake's Headship, there had been talk of moving the Central School to a new building to be erected on Kirkmanshulme Lane site. Now there was talk of using the land between Nicholls Building and Ardwick Green, thus bringing the whole school on one site. By 1970, however, the possibility of a new site to the east of Ardwick emerged. In June 1972, Mr. J. Hall, Deputy Chief Education Officer visited the school with 2 representatives from the Department, presumably to convince them of the need for a replacement building. By March 1972, planning went ahead for a new building in the Beswick area. This project featured high on the Authority's priority list, and the plans included provision for area community activities. A local library was included as part of the overall plan, as was a Sports Hall, and adjacent swimming facilities. The Headmaster was required to attend planning sessions for this East Manchester High School, soon to be given its officially proposed name of Sheena Simon High School. As these meetings continued, the Headmaster took with him senior members of staff, according to the subjects on the agenda. Soon, however, the scheme,although retaining its priority as an urgent Secondary education building project, came to a temporary halt for economic reasons.

As the years went by, there would be an occasional resurgence of hope as discussions were renewed, only to be followed by further disappointment as financial restraint and concern over falling school population figures left the project very much a plan for the future.