Page Eight


  

(The images of the Torch Magazine were donated by Janet Sheldon)

In September 1968, as a result of the efforts of Mr. Cornwall and Miss Cadogan and with the assistance of Mr. Donnan, the magazine "Torch" was published professionally, and included advertisements to offset expenditure. It was a fine production, reviewing activities during the first year of change. It also gave some fragmentary impressions "from the first three days of the school year when senior scholars continued the voluntary labours begun in their holidays, shifting furniture, books and supplies of every kind from building to building; to the 6th form Christmas party, with its novelty, ingenuity and wealth of talent, to the start of a house system with regular meetings and much greater cross section of children. The movement between buiidings by staff and to a lesser extent scholars, has been accomplished with praiseworthy lack of fuss and trouble, though it presents an obvious problem". Unfortunately, for economic reasons it was not possible to continue the production. Instead, first a Newsletter and then from 1971, a journal "Bridge", was produced entirely in school. Again the English and Art departments worked very hard, as did the Registrar and her staff, and it was possible to distribute free one copy to each family represented in the School.

During these years there was a considerable increase in the use of visual aid materials. For some time, the Languages department had its own tape recorder. The stock of these increased; overhead projectors, transistor radios, and projection equipment were stored in one central point under the care of the laboratory technicians. As the need for and use of the classroom "hardware" increased, it was decided, with the full co-operation of the Registrar and her staff, to experiment with the idea of a resources centre from which equipment could be issued, written material reproduced and eventually a store of film and material built up. Mr. W. Rutter took over responsibility for this development. Mr. Rigby, now M.E.C. District Inspector was very interested and the experiment became a "pilot" scheme for the Authority . Mr. Rigby arranged for the supply of more equipment, especially an offset lithographic printing machine. Mr. Rutter visited other schools and resources centres and Mrs Leech arranged for one of her office staff to carry out the secretarial work required for the centre, which was based in the room in "N" building adjacent to the Staffroom. The 2nd and 3rd Year Tutors who had used that room moved to the top floor, taking over a room off the Art corridor-a room which was not particularly useful as a classroom.

During these formative years, the M.E.C. Inspectorate was more than helpful. Mr. Keast and then Mr. Rigby from September 1970 were most understanding as District Inspectors. When the Inspectorate was re-organised, Mr. A. Freer visited as Senior District Inspector with Mrs E. Barnes and Mr. Rigby as his colleagues, with the school as one of Mr. Rigby's responsibilities. Mrs Barnes and Mr. Porter maintained close liaison with staff over many P.E. and Games matters, and the annual day courses were well supported from Ardwick. Miss Wright called frequently on Domestic subjects matters, as did Mr. Waddington initially when the Art room facilities were being improved. Mr. Pearson and Miss Shuttleworth, then Mr. Fox and his colleagues greatly encouraged the developments in Music, and Mr. Darlington and then Mr. Cardus followed Mr. Donnan's work with "immigrants" closely because it had become part of a Department of Education and Science project. Frequently H.M.l's visited to see their work-Mr. Ambrose in 1968; Mr. Montgomery in 1969 and Mr. Morgan in 1971. Miss O'Leary and Miss Moore saw the work in Domestic Science as well in 1970 and Miss Chesserson visited twice in 1968. The Senior District H.M.I. at this time, Mr. Makin, visited with a colleague, Mr. Smart in September, 1968 and Mr. P. Thompson and later Mr. J. Taylor, both from the Authority, helped with Mathematics and Science problems. Mr. Thompson was anxious to establish some kind of unified approach to Mathematics teaching, starting initially with co-operation at Primary School level within an area of the city and, by arrangement, Mr. Howard visited several primary schools.

Apart from Inspectors, the school had its fair share of visitors. Teaching practice facilities continued to be available to Manchester College of Education; the University Department of Education; Pidsbury and Elizabeth Gaskell Training Colleges; Bolton Technical Colleges; Regional College of Art; Northern School of Music; occasionally St. Martin's College, Lancaster and Alsager Training College, and Miss Irlam organised and controlled the school's responsibility. On occasions, facilities were granted for research work to be carried out, and for one day observation sessions. In February 1968, Headteachers of some of the contributory Primary schools visited for an afternoon to look at school facilities and meet boys and girls who came from their school. Mr. H.E.R. Townsend,with his colleague, Miss Britten, was preparing a survey for the National Foundarion for Educational Research on immigrant children, and he spent considerable time researching in school in 1971 and 1972. Miss McPherson of the Times Educational Supplement came in May 1971 prior to writing an article on the Raising of the School Leaving Age (R.O.S.L.A.). Mr. Y. Koida was a British Council visitor from Japan in November 1967. Miss G.B. Jones, M.E.C. Deputy Inspector brought a colleague from the Liverpool Inspectorate in February 1969. Six students from Ohio State University came in May of that year and Mrs McKearn from the State University of New York came in February 1972. Field officers from a British Council course spent a day in school in May 1972 and again in June 1973. Other visitors were Councillor Mrs Saily Shaw (who had known the Technical High School earlier when she was Youth Employment Officer), Mr. J. Hall, Deputy Chief Education Officer, Mr. G. Hainsworth, Assistant Education Officer and Mr. Dudley Fiske, who had succeeded Mr. Elliot as Chief Education Officer, paid his first visit in March 1969 and came again in December when he saw much of the building and stayed for lunch.

The staff responded well to opportunities provided by courses. Day courses and conferences were too numerous to mention, and there were plenty of longer courses. Mrs C. Griffiths, Miss C.M. Jones, Mrs E.C. Jones and Mr. Sowerby all participated at one time or another in the M.E.C. course for teachers of slow learners. Mr. Barnett and Mrs Goddard both attended lengthy courses (one afternoon and one evening weekly) on pastoral care and tutoring. Mrs Platts worked on a Curriculum Research Project (one day weekly) and Mr. F. Harper attended (one afternoon weekly) a Nuffield Mathematics Course. Mr. Spencer and Mr. Race both went on M.E.C. Mathematics courses, and Mr. E. Hughes a Department of Education week's course on Science teaching. Mrs Caulfield went on two Economics courses, each lasting a week; Mr. Race a week's Careers Course and Mrs Fyles a week's Biology Fieldwork Course. In July 1973 Mrs J. Curran went to France on an educational course. Mrs M. Brown (formerly Miss Cadoyan) spent 4 days at York University on an English teaching course; Nlr. Davies supported an M.E.C. weekend course in the Isle of Man and in November 1967, Mr. Cornwall and Mr. Watson attended an M.E.C. weekend course at Stratford-on-Avon. Mrs Griffiths and Miss C. M. Jones were members of the M.E.C. weekend conference group at Llandudno on "Remedial Teaching". The popular St. Anne's weekend courses and occasionally at Buxton were well supported, at one time or another, by Miss Irlam, Mr. Livesey, Mrs Platts, Mr. Noble, Mr. Barnett, Mr. Howard and Mr. Davies.

The Headmaster attended most of the St. Anne's courses. He also attended a week's course at York University for Heads of large or recently re-organised Secondary Schools. In October 1970, together with other Manchester representatives, he attended a week's course on school administration, run by the Department of Education and Science at Llandudno. He was Governor of Openshaw Technical College and from 1967 he convened and chaired meetings of the Heads of the High Schools. He attended meetings of many consultative sub-committees on a variety of subjects, including three long standing ones-"Liaison with Social Services", a group concerned with the problem of "Badly behaved children", and one on "Attendance and returns". In April 1971, he was nominated with colleague Miss P. M. Lehman (Harpurhey High School) and Mr. D. C. Davies from the Education Offices, to lead a group of Manchester boys and girls in acting as hosts to a party of boys and girls from Manchester's twin city, Leningrad, visiting for 14 days. A varied programme was arranged and the whole party was to stay at Parrs Wood house. Regrettably, after much preparation, news was received that the Russian party had withdrawn. Much of the programme was carried out, however, in the summer holiday, greatly to the delight of members of the group.

In July 1968, Stuart Ashmore of the 5th year, had the distinction of being a member of the Manchester Schools party to visit Leningrad. Janet Davies, formerly of the Secondary Girls School had also made such a visit on an earlier occasion. David Pridgeon (Senior Student) was selected to be one of 8 Manchester boys making up a party with boys from other cities to tour Canada in the Summer of 1970 under the W. H. Rhodes Educational Trust Scheme and Stuart Ashmore gained a reserve place.