It was an aim of the school to organise the whole educational process so that boys and girls were being prepared to use whatever interests and abilities they possessed to the full. There were, therefore, some additions or alterations to the more traditional curriculum subject approach. Rural studies had been a part of the Nicholls School programme, and this was continued for a time, with classes led by Mr. T. Sowerby moving to Parrs Wood Gardening for both practical and theory work. A Social Studies course for the less able in the 4th year was experimented with. Mrs G. Robinson, Mr. Bedford and Miss Irlam, and at a later stage Mr. H. Jones arranged weekly Friday afternoon lectures on such topics as "Manchester Waterworks", "Police", "Weights and Measures", "Television" and "The Press", and there were visits to the Fire Station, Power Station and the Town Hall. As pre-driving courses became available, the school experimented with such a course for seniors. A car was available, and the large playground of "A" building was used as a practice area-under instruction of course. So useful was this space that Central High School for Girls "borrowed" it for their course in the Spring of 1971.

Two other activities which were developed outside the curriculum but which,by success, became part of it were Outdoor Pursuits and Educational Dance. From September 1968, Mr. W. D. Norbury, with other colleagues, led walking expeditions and from 1972 took out a different group on one day each week within the timetable. For 5 years he organised and led camps, mainly in the Lake District and North Wales. In 1970 he introduced canoe-making as a project. The school constructed enough to warrant the building of a large trailer to help transport expeditions to suitable sites. Groups used Lower Gorton reservoir on a weekly basis, and many of the camps catered for both walking and canoeing. On one occasion a visit was made to the National Canoe Exhibition in London. Water activities were extended to include sailing when the Authority obtained the use of Hollingworth Lake in the summer of 1973. The training centre staff at the lake visited the school to give iectures, and then, for that term, Mr. Norbury took groups out once or twice a week.

Girls who were interested in Modern Educational Dance developed their skills under the encouragement of Mrs Easby and the general support of Mrs E. Barnes of the Manchester Inspectorate and her colleagues in much the same way as Mr. R. Porter had supported water activities. Although the dance activity became a part of the general P.E. work, it developed an entity of its own in that it soon became an option at 4th year level, leading to a C.S.E. Examination. Groups regularly took part in displays and dance festivals at other schools; on occasions such festivals were held in "N" Hall, and there were visits to performances by the National Dance Theatre. In the Commerce department, Mr. Booth developed opportunities for training in office skills in addition to Shorthand and Typewriting, and Commerce was introduced as a subject from the 4th year. The English staff participated in Curriculum Development work at 4th year level and the Science department experimented with suitable senior courses in General Science-able boys and girls took Chemistry, Physics and/or Biology as separate examination subjects after the 2nd year. It was often a very difficult task to decide whether a boy or girl should be in an external examination class, or indeed which examination group, C.S.E. or G.C.E. Not always could the decision be left until the 5th year. The problem became more acute with the raising of the school leaving age (R.O.S.L.A.) from September 1972. With so many more in the 5th year, organisation had to be as flexible as possible. In the event, it worked out that very few boys and girls left school without being a candidate for one or more subjects at external examination level.

At 6th Form level, a good range of "A" level subjects was available, now including Economics. English, Mathematics and General Studies were taken by all, and most took some form of Science. Geology was developed and there were general courses available for those who wished to continue at school for a further year and prepare for direct entry into industry, commerce, nursing, the services and other careers. The commercial group was particularly strong, and there was provision for examination "retakes". G.C.E. "O" Level results were variable, with some good years, although there was a slow decline in the number of candidates and total subject entries. C.S.E. results were always extremely good, and were received and communicated to candidates in school before the closure for the summer holiday. The number of "A" level candidates declined slightly, but there was a steady stream of boys and girls from the 6th form going into Full-time Degree or Diploma courses- from a maximum of 20 to a minimum of 8, and always a number of those went for Teacher Training. R.S.A. and Pitman's examinations were taken by girls from the 6th Form Commercial Group. Many members of staff sat on C.S.E. Examination subject panels and the English department became involved in J.M.B. considerations of English at 6th Form level. When steps were taken towards the setting up of a Joint C.S.E./G.C.E. Examination at 16+, staff participated in planning trial examination papers, and the school took these papers in Geography, Physics and Mathematics.

The Geography department, led by Mr. Johnson, continued the 4th, 5th and 6th form field exercises, generally to Castleton, Tame and Goyt Valley areas. A visit made to the meteorological centre at Manchester Airport, and on several occasions he took 6th formers for a week or weekend's activity at residential field centres. Mrs Fyles did the same thing with the Biology groups, and Miss Mellor visited sites at controlled waste tips and treatment plants with Human and Social Biology classes. Mr. Donnan regularly took his Art classes on sketching excursions. Indeed there were many visits to supplement work in school. Mr. Hughes and his Science colieagues Mr. Cocker, Mr. Sayer and Mr. RuKer took groups to relevant lectures, rnuseums and places like Jodrell Bank, and Mr. Donnan's groups visited most local Art Galleries. Housecraft and Needlework classes, led at various times by Miss Grew, Miss Hillerton, Mrs Dean, Mrs Reed and Miss Wood (later Mrs Parker) visited institutions and attended displays and exhibitions, including the Ideal Homes Exhibition in London. Mr. Booth's Commerce groups went to Telephone House, the C.W.S. Building and Fielden Park F.E. College and Miss McKnight (later Mrs Caulfield) took groups to the Manchester Stock Exchange, Manchester Evening News and Manchester Docks. Miss Irlam took 4th year girls to flower shows and groups of boys were taken by Messrs. Allardice, Norbury and Taylor to "Do it Yourself" and "Brighter Homes" Exhibitions. Mr. E. Lee took his 4th year form to a Public Library and Mr. T. Jones his 4th year group to Bolton. Mrs C. Griffiths, with Miss C.M. Jones, and, on the first two occasions, Mr. Sowerby, took remedial lower forms to Chester, Knowsley Safari Park, Stockport, and Manchester Museums. Miss Grier visited the current excavations at the Manchester City Hall centre with 40 boys and girls, and Mr. Bedford took his 4th, 5th and 6th form R.E. Groups to day conferences. In July 1972, one such conference was held in school, and at one held at Mather Training Coliege in 1968, the topic "Me, My Neighbour and the World" was introduced by the Rev. David Kynaston, formerly a Methodist Missionary in Rhodesia, and an old boy of Ardwick Central School. The 6th Form always attended Open Days at U.M.I.S.T. and supported special lectures on Science, Engineering and Economic topics.

Visiting lecturers were always welcome and covered a variety of topics to various age and ability groups-"Home Care", "Hygiene", "Good Grooming", "Automatic Controi", "Constructing a Hydro Electric Scheme Overseas", "Drug Addiction", "Drugs", "India and Pakistan". Mr. K. Ogilvie, Warden of the M.E.C. Ghyll Head Outdoor Pursuits Centre, spoke to 2nd and 3rd year boys and girls, and each year 1st and 2nd years had a Police Accident Prevention lecture and film. Mr. V. Sayer generally organised a Junior School team for the City's Road Safety Quiz. In March 1972, Mrs Gundala Meyer, a pastor of the German Evangelical Church, spoke to some 4th year forms. 4th year girls had a demonstration of "Child Care" and in March 1968, the British Drama Theatre Company gave two performances in "N" Hall to 3rd year and 1 st and 2nd years.

Each year Mr. Bedford organised and led a day's outing for 4th and 5th year History and R.E. groups. Fountains Abbey, Kirkstall Abbey and Litchfield Cathedrai were some of the centres visited. The 6th form had an outing each July, and, led by Mr. G. J. Davies, they visited Stratford-on-Avon, York and N. Wales, amongst other places.