Loftus County Modern School Speech Day presentations by Alderman J. T. Fletcher; chairman of North Riding Education Committee. Mr Norminton commented that: ”as it was easier for children to find jobs, parents were willing to leave them at school for an extra year.” This in a period when jobs outnumbered school leavers. How times have changed!
Back row: Hazel Johnson, Mary Hall, David Hampton, Steven Partlett.
Front: Mr Harold Norminton (Headmaster), Annette Steyert, Alderman Fletcher, Colin Grout, Keith Fowle, Talbert Jackson.
Chris Colbeck commented: “Regarding the comment of the Headmaster. 1964 to 1965 was the first year when pupils could remain at school a further year and had an opportunity to sit exams for the Certificate of Secondary Education [CSE] which was a set little below the academic level of the GCE. Steve Partlett added: “Despite being in the photograph, I cannot remember why we were chosen! However, I suspect that the photograph was taken in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs to the 1st and 2nd floors. Almost opposite were some stairs to the basement; in the basement was the Prefect’s room, I suspect that this was emptied for the photograph! All those in the photograph were Prefects, with the exception of Hazel, who was Head Girl. At a guess the date is after Summer 1964 because in Summer 1965 some of those in the photograph left to attend Redcar Technical College for their fifth year.”
Image courtesy of Jean Carass; also many thanks to Chris Colbeck, Steven Partlett, Eileen Found and Ann Jackson for the updates.
The missing name on the back row is David Hampton.