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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:
Falling secondary school rolls (nationally) were discussed. "In North Yorkshire this fall, which commenced in 1980 will reach its fullest extent slightly later than in some other counties but by 1992 we expect ... a 26-30% decline in numbers.
Arthur Dowding (Caretaker), Joan Grice (Secretary) and Harold Taylor (Assistant caretaker) retired. Ken Hopwood, Jennie Capstick and Keith Lythe replaced them.
Lack of money remained a problem. The cuts had begun - £2.6m off the £120m county budget. The school scraped enough money together to replace the school video tape recorder, installing the new model plus a rented TV in the East Wing dining room (virtually redundant as such) at a cost of £750! The photocopier was replaced, and the school acquired its own computer at £800+ (an accompanying printer would cost £400). Capitation was not keeping pace with inflation, and funds from County were scarcer than previously. The teachers pay award of 7.5% was funded by scrapping Foreign Language asssistants and reducing supply budgets. Supply only allowed for staff on 4th day of absence, or when more than 3 staff were absent ill at the same time.
A sponsored Run held in October 1980 raised £2611 - which was to help with out of school activities. Decorating was being delayed, playing surfaces were suffering from economies in groundstaff. Mr Wild had students building cupboards and shelves in a self-help schemes - seating for the youth annexe, a tombola drum.
A cash cafeteria system was introduced in December 1980.
Streaming appeared to be working. The fear of moving down a group seemed to spur some on, as did the potential reward of moving up did for others. An A-B-B-C banding system was to be introduced half way through the first year.
Mr Gresswell had spent a week in Llandudno discussing curriculum 13-18. Computer Studies O level and CSE was introduced for the first time, as was "Language and Learning Skills" in the Sixth Form (non-exam).
117 fourth years took part in work experience in July.
Oklahoma was presented to three capacity audiences in March 1981. A great success, a cast of 51 pupils and 3 staff.
The usual trips took place, but not the Greek expedition with Mr Joannidis - rising costs. The France camping trip and the visit to Rome took place by joining forces with Queen Anne's School, otherwise numbers would have been inadequate. A trip to Iceland for 8 Sixth Formers was organised by Mr Ewing and Mrs Kay - a "once in a lifetime experience".
Employment prospects for Year 11 were not good this year. One in four of those seeking employment did not find it. 750 school leavers in York were registered unemployed.
It was felt necessary to tighten up on rules for dress and appearance.