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. 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.
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
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. Some visits were of several
days duration. In May 1968, Mr. Johnson and Miss Tattum took 20 boys
and girls from the 4th year to Ghyll Head Outdoor Pursuits Centre for a
week's field course there. From 1972, Mr. Sutton led a ski-ing
expedition to Austria, lasting a week in February, and organised in
conjunction with some other Manchester Schools. At Easter 1970, and
again in 1971, Mr. Davies led a senior school journey to Switzerland
and Mr. Harper and Mr. Rutter continued the annual holiday visit to the
popular Westward Ho' in Devon at either Easter or Whitsuntide.
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