After several years of experiment (sometimes two magazines on time, sometimes one six months late), arrangements have now been made for the Phoenix to be published by our new printers every Autumn and to contain in approximately equal proportions, pupils' original contributions, both literary and artistic, and the usual accounts of the previous year's activities. The last date for the handing in of material will be the end of September, and it is hoped to have the magazine in pupils' and parents' hands soon after half term. Normal and inevitable retirements have meant that during a period of no more than fourteen months, Drayton Manor has had three Headmasters and two Deputy Heads. Dr. Evans retired in July 1970, Mr. Wright was Acting Head for a term; the present Head took up his appointment in January 1971; Mr. Wright retired in July; and Mr. Phillips has just joined the school as Deputy Head.

Mr. Wright's retirement after thirty nine years of service is fully recorded elsewhere, but it is perhaps fitting that I should express here my personal thanks for his work and advice during the last six months of those thirty nine years. Such staff changes in so short a time may appear to mark the end of an era, but I am sure that the best tribute to the work of Dr. Evans and Mr. Wright lies in our determination to preserve, whatever changes the future may bring, the atmosphere which they did so much to develop, in co-operation of course with a great many staff and pupils. We welcome as Deputy Head, Mr. J. Phillips who comes to us from Archbishop Tennison's Grammar School where he was Head of the Modern Languages Department. After graduating with honours in Modern Languages at Oxford, Mr. Phillips spent a year as a lecturer in a French University and subsequently held the post of Sixth Form and Careers Master at St. Marylebone Grammar School. It may interest some to know that quite apart from his more obvious academic and professional qualifications, he was once the Captain of the England Schools' Cricket XI - as the school may come to appreciate if the fixture between staff and boys is ever revived.

At the end of January, Mr. R. H. Khan returned to Pakistan, his place in the Mathematics and Physics Departments being filled for the remainder of the year by Mr. D. Yarnell. At the end of the Summer Term Mrs. Ralph retired from teaching, Miss Woodall moved to Bristol to become Head of Biology at Churchill School, Mrs. Higgins decided to seek a part-time appointment, and Miss Skelan left to undertake "voluntary service overseas". To all of these we extend our thanks and best wishes for their future career. In their places we welcome Mrs. Spikes - no stranger to the Mathematics Department; Miss Virgo to the Biology Department; Miss Westwood to the English Department and Miss Moan to the Geography Department, of which Mrs. Preston is now the Head.

1970-71 will be remembered as the most successful football season in the history of the school. Full details will be found on another page, but it should be said that it will be difficult for any future team to equal the 1st. Xl's success in winning both the Middlesex Schools' League Championship and the Middlesex Schools' Knock Out Cup Competition, and impossible for anyone to exceed it!

The activities of our various Clubs and Societies have continued much as in previous years and are described in separate articles. One new venture -the open air Concert should be mentioned here. A great success in itself, it may prove the first of many opportunities for 'music making' at appropriate times (such as the lunch hour) in the quadrangle!

The process of syllabus/ curriculum development and change - the never ending task of schools to ensure that the work undertaken is up to date and well adapted to the needs of people in the late 20th and 21st cenuries - has continued, although there are few far reaching changes to be recorded. Perhaps the most important has been the inclusion of Physics as one of the basic subjects of the fourth and fifth year courses, the others being Mathematics, English and French.

The school is again greatly indebted to the Parents' Association for their active help and encouragement; in particular, it is very largely through their generosity that the school now has its own video tape recorder and associated equipment. The educational possibilities which this opens up can hardly be discussed here, but there is no doubt that many generations of pupils will benefit.

During the year the Borough of Ealing provided two new relocatable classrooms on the edge of the playing field. These are now in full use by the 6th form and as a result pressure of accommodation in the main building has been substantially eased.

As the magazine goes to press, further proposals for the re-organisation of education in Ealing, and others for the reform of the '0' level/C.S.E. examination system throughout the country are very much in the air. Although neither of these proposals is likely to affect pupils already in the school, some changes may well be inevitable in the long run. The vital consideration, especially with examination changes, is the choice of appropriate extensions to and modifications of our present work.

C. J. E.