The year began with the opening of the new Arts/Crafts block, designed to provide sufficient workshops, Technical Drawing, Art, Home Economics and Needlework rooms for a school of eleven to twelve hundred pupils. Completed and handed over thirty-six hours before the term began, the building was in use from the start, although much remained to be done during the weeks that followed. Such a rapid opening was only made possible by an immense effort on the part of teachers, caretaking staff and pupils in moving furniture and equipment, much of it in a matter of hours.

In January work was begun on a second new building -a two-storey teaching block which is to be joined to the existing school at first floor level by the Music Room entrance. Scheduled for completion in the summer term of 1977, this will provide twelve new classrooms and additional study, resources and social areas, together with offices and stores. Thereafter it is hoped to build a second gymnasium and to develop a seventh properly equipped science laboratory by "converting" the old workshop area.

With the arrival of two hundred and seventy new pupils in September, the number on roll rose to eight hundred and seventy. In the Sixth Form Advanced Level work continued as usual and in the 3rd, 4th and 5th years, the setting arrangements introduced in 1974-5 were repeated Pupils who entered the second year from twenty eight different Middle Schools were taught for much of each week in relatively small classes of twenty three or twenty four. French was taken in sets based on ability and previous experience in the Middle Schools, while, as part of the Mathematics programme, the new "SMILE" project proved both popular and successful. Latin was begun in the Spring Term as a voluntary extra subject by some of those who had made rapid progress with French. (A larger number will begin German in the third year as a second or, in some cases, as a third foreign language). In the Arts/Crafts block, 2nd year pupils followed introductory courses in six subjects (three in each half year) with both boys and girls tackling woodwork and metalwork, Home Economics and Needlework, as well as Art and Pottery. Work in the laboratories was based on the Scottish Integrated Science Syllabus as an introduction, for most pupils, to the study of the separate sciences -Physics, Chemistry and Biology - in the third year.

In September, Mrs. A. Hartley joined the staff as I-lead of Shaftesbury House, Mrs. 0. Moore as head of Commerce and Miss E. Rae as Head of the Remedial Department. As in 1974 there was a substantial increase in the teaching strength, with the School welcoming Miss Slee and Mr. Lovett to the English Department; Mr. L. Sharma and Mr. S. Rahim to Mathematics; Mr. C. Essex and Mr.J. French to Physics with Mathematics; Mrs. I. de Sousa to Music; Mr. H. Singh to Religious Education; Mrs. M. Read to Chemistry; Mrs. J. Young to Home Economics and Miss L. Richards to the P.E. Department. Staff changes during the year were few; Mrs. K. Boyle left the English Department in October and Mrs. K. Spikes the Mathematics Department in April. In their places we welcomed Mrs. J. Taylor and Mrs. S. Dolan. Mrs. Young, Mr. Essex and Mr. Rahim left at the end of the summer term when Mr. R. Edgecliffe-Johnson retired after twenty-three years of notable service on the staff, eighteen of them as Head of the English Department. To those who left during or at the end of the year we offer our thanks for their work and our best wishes for the future.

Other features of 19 75/6 were the School Play in December; Concerts at Christmas and in July; a Wye Valley 'Adventure' Week for the second year after examinations; a skiing holiday during the February Half-term; and an expanded programme of visits and visiting speakers. Perhaps the outstanding events of the year were the School's first Musical - "Oliver!" produced and directed by Mr. D. Adams and Mr. S. Block, and the Mini-Bus project which, in four months, raised over £2,000, through sponsored activities and the "Bus" Fair! Open Day, towards the cost of a School Mini-Bus. With about £1,200 now needed, we hope that a substantial effort early in the Autumn Term will complete the project and enable us to buy the bus.

C. J. E.