ECW log for 1967

Spring Term 1967

Term started with 327 boys on roll. There are no changes of staff.

• 8-14 Jan: 7 boys plus one master to Plas Gwynant for a 1-week Geography course.
• 9 Jan: Photographic Society show film on developing and printing at home.
• 13 Jan: Visit of Sq Ldr B C Knight, school liaison officer of RAF.
• 17 Jan: Careers teachers meeting held in Council Chamber.
• 20 Jan: Visit of police to talk to school at assembly.
• 31 Jan: Meeting of staff with the Director of Education at Wodensborough to explain plans for reorganisation.
• 7 Feb: School open in the evening for the visit of parents of chidlren in junior schools.
• 13 Feb: Road safety competition v Girls’ High won by this school.
• 14 Feb: Meeting at Wood Green County S M School – Director and panel of speakers outline reorganisation plans to parents.
• 16 Feb: Fifth and Sixth Form youth hostelling in Snowdonia over half term.
• 18 Feb: County cross country championships at Hednesford Hills – I Pheasant and M R Smith chosen to represent West Bromwich schools team.
• 23 Feb: Sixth Form Economics group see a closed circuit TV board meeting of Cope Alkman International Ltd (?) at J B and J Lees Ltd.
• 27 Feb-3 Mar: 7 Lower Sixth boys go to Ingestre Hall for an inter-schools Sixth Form General Studies course.
• 27 Feb: Reported that on Sat 25 Feb volleyball team won the Midlands zone of the schoolboys national championships and now go forward to the quarter finals to be played in Berkshire in April.
• 2 Mar: Arts Festival.
• 4 Mar: Coach trip to Wembley – G Fleet plays for Birmingham boys v London boys at Wembley before League Cup final.
• 9 Mar: RSPCA fashion show held in Hall. Biological field work undertaken on Cannock Chase.
• 10 Mar: Costume rehearsal for school play.
• 16-18 Mar: School play – Tobias and the Angel.
• 16 Mar: Visit of first forms to Chatsworth House. Geological fieldwork in Shropshire.
• 23 Mar: End of term. Mr Dearne leaves to take up an appointment at the Lady Hawkins Bilateral School, Kingston.
• 24 Mar-3 Apr: School visit to Yugoslavia – 29 boys and 2 staff.
• 31 Mar: Brian Mantle Memorial Concert held in the Wednesbury Town Hall. Irene Pedley singers and the School Choir.

Summer Term 1967

Number of boys on roll at commencement of term = 327 (one transfer from a Sec Mod School admitted and one L6 leaver from last term – hence numbers static. No replacement for Mr Dearne so arrangements for Biology lessons in senior part of school to be covered by staff at Girls’ High and Manor Schools. Laboratory technician’s duties undertaken by L6 boys. 

• 10 Apr: U13 won Albion Shield, U14 won Wolves Cup. In six-a-side, U14 won the Staffs County competition. U15 won the B’ham and District competition.
• 13 Apr: Sixth Form Economists visit the Stock Exchange.
• 14 Apr: Fifth Form Geography field work at Church Stretton.
• 15 Apr: Volleyball team lost in semi-finals in Berkshire.
• 17 Apr: Reported death of Mr Turner, Director of Education.
• 27 Apr: Formation of Sixth Form Bridge Club.
• 1 May: Meeting of sub-committee to plan for Gala Day at end of term.
• 9 May: West Bromwich Schools sports at Hydes Road.
• 12 May: Debate at Town Hall – Richards and Cooksey took part – debate against two pupils from West Bromwich Gr Sch.
• 26 May: Interview for appointment of Deputy Head.
• 9 Jun: Mr Ladkin at NUJMB markers’ meeting.
• 16 Jun: School very successful in West Brom schools swimming competition finals.
• 17 Jun: PA annual outing to Blenheim Palace and river cruise.
• 1 Jul: Open Day at Ingestre.
• 3 Jul: Mr R Hutchinson commenced duties to teach Biology.
• 5 Jul: Performance in St Bartholomew’s Church of Handel’s Coronation Anthems and Zadok the Priest.
• 6 Jul: Sports Day held during afternoon. Road safety proficiency test (cycling) at Wood Green in evening.
• 7 Jul: Start of week’s camp at Christchurch, Forest of Dean.
• 7-8 Jul: Wright and Kelly compete in the All England Schools AAA championships at Peterborough. Kelly 4th in semi-finals 80 yds hurdles; Wright 3rd in heats.
• 8 Jul: Gala Day – PA event.
• 10 Jul: House Plays and Sixth Form Revue in afternoon. Team competed in Road Safety quiz – lost in final by half a point.
• 11 Jul: House plays and Sixth Form Revue in morning. Annual Commemoration Service is St Paul’s Church (pm) – preacher Rev C Raymond Smith, Methodist Industrial Chaplain to the West Midlands.
• 12 Jul: Old Boys’ dinner held at Kenmare Cafe, Walsall, on retirement of Mr Mangan.
• 13 Jul: Meeting of heads at Council Chamber.
• 14 Jul: Term ends. Reported the following staff leaving: Mr Mangan, Mr Ladkin (to Anstey College of Education), Mr Freeman-Jones (to Alsager College of Education), Miss Todd-White (to Malvern).

Autumn Term 1967

This term the following new staff were welcomed to the School: Mr G Thomas as Deputy Headmaster (to teach some History and General Studies), Mr A Payne (an old boy of the School) to be Head of Modern Languages, Mr Watkins (who has returned after one year away at Rochdale) as Head of the English Department, Miss P Jackson to teach German and some French, Mr R Hutchinson (who joined at the end of last term) to teach Biology.

Number of pupils on roll at commencement of term = 345. Altogether 29 of last year’s Fifth Form joined the Sixth, plus one 16 year old transfer from Wodensborough. Form 1 intake = 66 boys.

• 6 Sep: Meeting of heads at Charlemont Teachers’ Centre on plans for re-organisation.
• 13 Sep: Full day Geography conference at Wolverhampton attended by Sixth Form Geographers.
• 22 Sep: Meeting of governors re reorganisation plans.
• 26 Sep: Meeting with Mr Berry (Chairman of WBHS governors), Mrs Jones (Chairman of WGHS governors) and Miss Nash (headmistress of WGHS).
• 28 Sep: Just-U portraits of all new boys.
• 3 Oct: Start of careers advice by outside speakers at lunchtime.
• 9-13 Oct: Sixth Form General Studies course at Ingestre.
• 10 Oct: Mrs O M Harrison starts duties as temporary clerical assistant due to illness of Secretary.
• 12 Oct: Director of Education meets the staff re reorganisation.
• 18 Oct: Fourth Form Geography field work at Shenstone.
• 23 Oct Visit of audiometrician for Form 1.
• 24 Oct: Form 1 visit Barr Beacon for field work.
• 26 Oct: Meeting with Director of Education.
• 31 Oct: Special meeting of governors – Director outlines plans for the reorganisation of the School (amalgamation with Wood Green County S Mod) from Sept 1968.
• 16 Nov: Speech Day. Guest of Honour Dr David Husbands.
• 18 Nov: Visit to Cannon Hill theatre.
• 21 Nov: Visit to Nottingham Playhouse to see “Othello”.
• 30 Nov: Showing of slides of Calafell to those going to Spain at Easter.
• 5 Dec: Joint meeting of parents of both schools in Wood Green with the Director.
• 19 Dec: Photographic Society trip to Science Museum, Birmingham. Original pantomime written and composed by the Upper Sixth presented (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs).
• 20 Dec: Pantomime presented to School during afternoon.
• 21 Dec: Carol Service in St Paul’s Church. End of term.