Northcliffe School Speech Day – Welcomes the Raising of School Age.

February 1960

South Yorkshire Times, February 15.

Accommodation the Key at Conisbrough.

Northcliffe welcomes the raising of school age.

Mr A.G.Young, headmaster of Conisbrough Northcliffe County High School, said at the Speech Day on Tuesday that while they welcomed the decision to raise the school leaving age to 16, it could present accommodation problems at the school.

He said, “We are looking forward to the 1970s when the Government is going to ask us to keep our reluctant heroes at school until they are 16. If the government deal wisely with the situation. all will be well now.

“We shall need at least half as much room again, more handicraft shops, housecraft rooms, motor, maintenance shops, boat building shops, art and craft rooms, debating rooms, libraries and drama workshops.

Rebellion

“if these are not forthcoming and we just serve our sophisticated teenagers with large doses of the same mixture as before, we shall only reap a harvest of sullen rebellion.

“There is a double GCE stream coming along from our third year as well as a CSE stream already formed in our fourth year. In two years time we shall have grown three fifth forms – voluntarily staying on until 16.”

Major extensions were scheduled for 1968, and if this came to pass in 1968, they should be in a position to meet the emergency.

Speaking on GCE results, Mr Young said two boys obtained all six subjects for which they entered.

“That boys were borderline at 11 plus should go on to make such a mark at GCE “O” level is very gratifying to us all.” he added.

He mentioned that in the next group, one boy was entered for nine subjects and three for eight subjects.

” A” Level.

Seven boys listed among certificate winners were now studying for their “A” levels at Mexborough Grammar School, and would go to swell the homegrown Conisbrough contingent of boys and girls who would go on to training colleges and universities.

In two years time he hoped that there would be an equal number of girls names in the lists.

“Our amalgamation is too recent for this to be possible in GCE results, but the girls Duke of Edinburgh’s awards were presented just before amalgamation,” he said.

Saying that 183 boys and girls would be travelling abroad this year, Mr Young commented, “This to me is all part of education that makes sense to the boys and girls.”

The Bishop.

The Bishop of Sheffield, the right reverent F.J.Taylor, who presented the awards, told pupils that education was something not doled out by teachers. “Education is a double sided process in which there are teachers and learners,” he added.

What happened in school, whether a pupil left at 15 or 16, was only just a beginning.

Prizes were important in a way, but the prizes they could all have were skills. The whole business of life, was the proper rhythm between work and leisure. “What you’re doing at school and when you’re educating ourselves is in order that you may enjoy and use more fully and effectively life as a whole.” He said.

If the school went forward in the kinder way he had learned it was doing, and if pupils kept those things in mind, he had no doubt about the success of its future.

Overcrowded.

The chairman of the governors, Cllr Mrs D Limer, said her concern was about the accommodation in the building. They all knew it was overcrowded and unless they could have the long promised extensions by 1970, it would not be a question of educating pupils in the school, but merely putting a roof over their heads. The governors would do all they could to alleviate the situation.

She paid tribute to Mr Young and his staff for the successful launching of the school’s new career.
A vote of thanks to the Bishop was proposed by the Head Boy, Gerald Herbert, and seconded by the Head Girl, Judith Longley.
An extract from a play written specially for the Shakespeare Centenary Year by John Bourne, was spoken by boys and girls from Wesley 3. A solo “Pie Jesu” was sung by Betty Marshall.

Awards

prizewinners were:
Upper School.
Chairman’s prize, Roger Bradwell.
Headmaster’s prize, Terry Stocks.
Hague prize Kenneth King and Betty Marshall.
Parkgate Iron and Steelworks prize, Barry Moverley and Marie Fletcher
Rural studies: David Fernie.
Dickinson prizes: geography, John Wood and Andrew McKenzie.
Griffith prize: Stephen Hurd.
Urch prize: Kenneth King.
Wilson prize: Ann Watkin.
Brocklesby and Wright prize: Christopher Springthorpe

Lower School

Limer prizes: Art Victor Holt and Gwynneth Jones.
Warren Prizes: English, Charles Smith and Wayne Bennett.
Tyas prizes: mathematics, Ann Vernon and Stephen Hunsley.
NCB prizes: science, William Wood and Rita Wesley.
Woodwork Adrian Pettman.
Metalwork Raymond White.
Domestic science Pauline Severns.
Needlework Pauline Davies.
McHugh prize, geography, Janet Exton

Gold Medals.
Duke of Edinburgh’s awards.
Gold: Michael Clifford, Kevin Miller, Melvyn Exton and George Jones

Silver: Roger Bradwell, Eric Brown, Andrew McKenzie and Alan Mincher

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