ARCHIVE PAGE: this website is gradually being updated from May 2022
Headmaster's reports were submitted to the Governing Body by Mr Gresswell: they were saved separately from minutes, and some survive. Additionally annual reports survive, which were written for presentation to the Annual PTA meeting, and first appeared in 1975.
Where staff departures and appointments are recorded, they have been added to the staff database. Exam summaries are given in more detail where data permits - in the exam summary pages. A selection of some of the more interesting items follows:
A testing year. The report begins with a fulsome tribute to Deputy Head Mr I G Hooke, who resigned in Aug 79. He looked after Upper School, East Wing, Careers, timetable, exams. Sadly his wife had died in December 1978 and he chose to leave teaching at the end of the year. Mr Christal was appointed as his replacement - for Jan 1980. Alf White, Derek Mitchell and Shirley Magson also left. Barry Miller, Mrs Christine Smith, Mrs Jean Howell arrived.
The school roll had increased to 717 - 370 boys and 347 girls. This is causing some problems in allocation of rooms, with five classes in 1st, 3rd and 5th years. The increase moved the school into Group 10, allowing a 2nd Deputy, 2 Senior teacher posts and other scale points.
The national winter of discontent had repercussions in school. Unofficial strike action by the Transport and General Workers Union after Christmas caused difficulties with fuel deliveries. All fuel was used up by 17 January 1979 and the school was forced to close. The East Wing remained open as it was gas heated, and a Sixth Form timetable ran. "Ironically, staff and pupils returning on that day found that the gas system had broken down and they had to work in temperatures in the 40's. A full programme was resumed by 25th January. In May the NUT and NASUWT withdrew its members from all voluntary activities, including lunchtime supervision, and out of hours meetings. Also a 5-hour working day - hence they would depart at 3.15 each day (end of period 6). Pupils were asked to go home for lunch as the Head could not guarantee adaequate supervision. Striking teachers classes were sent home after period 6. The Head was instructed to appoint ancillary lunchtime supervisors, which he did after four months of advertising. The PTA offered to hire a hall in town for students to eat lunch. Buses returned to 3.50 pickups, and Mr Gresswell at times supervised 140 - 170 students for period 7 in west Wing Hall. The strike ended on 22 May. County deducted one eleventh of striking staff salaries, and this resulted in further withdrawal from voluntary activities by the NASUWT (not the NUT). Mr Gresswell comments on his "invidious" position in the middle of teacher and LEA. He lamented the decline in teachers' pay, but did not welcome the strike methods employed.
In spite of all this, Mr Ashworth had intended producing Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" with the 6th form, but heavy snow prevented rehearsals and fruition. Theatre trips to Godspell (Hull), The Lady's Not for Burning (Hull Prospect Theatre Company), Look Back In Anger (Harrogate), Julius Caesar (York and Leeds), A Winter's Tale (Manchester), The Tempest and Measure for Measure (Stratford on Avon - "a new venture two-day trip"), The Rivals (Horsforth),
The Languages department had been to study days at York, Leeds and Bradford. 4th year students went on the Yorkshire-Lille exchange.
General Studies took 6th formers to York Crown Court during the trial of the Hull Prison Officers - and were strip searched before being allowed entry. Mr Spencer also organsied a mock election to shadow the General election: candidates Tracy Yates, Tim Bull, Ian Pearson and Colin Raw. Results were very much a reflection of national trends".
Field trips continued: East Barnby hosted 70 4th formers for Geography, and some 6L. Mr Lawes and Mrs Fisher took 3rd years on a Religious Studies field trip to Northumberland and Durham. Other trips were to Ideal Homes (London), Bishop Burton, Helmsley Castle and Rievaulx Abbey.
3 trips to the continent. 44 2nd year boys and girls to Normandy, Rouen and Paris. 5th & 6th to Rome with Mrs Shields. Upper School to Aegina, Greece, with Mr Joannidis. The usual Langdale camping trips.
Sport: 300 fixtures against other schools, plus 100 House fixtures.
Exam results do not compare unfavourably with last year's and are disappointing more in that they did not indicate a climb back to the heights we achieved in 1977. Various figures given (see exam results tables). Josephine Myers went to Trinity College, Cambridge, to read English. A comparison with Malton Grammar is made: in 1971 the average pass rate at A level was 1.88. Over its last 7 years it was 1.75 . This year, omitting General Studies, it was 1.80, and the average over the last 7 years is 1.90. In 1977 it had been 2.2, With General Studies the average moves to 2.1, and 2.3 over 7 years. 16+ exams had just been introduced.
Mr Gresswell laments the attitude of some students to attendance - some Sixth Form girls and 5th years, supported by their parents.