Headmaster's Notes 08
(1965)

When this magazine is published, responsibility for education in the county of Middlesex will be in process of passing to nine London boroughs and, in particular, Northwood will become part of the borough of Hillingdon. The Divisional Executive for Education of Northwest Middlesex and the Divisional Education Officer, Mr. F. C. Sabin, can take pride in the state of the schools which they are handing over. I am sure that the new authority will be anxious to improve the standards of education in the new borough still further, and if I were asked what are the priorities I should say teachers and buildings. The state of education in ten years time is going to depend on the provision of adequate and up-to-date accommodation for all schools and above all on the quality and number of the staff which the new borough can attract.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of staff and boys, the aims which ! set the School at the first meeting with parents ten years ago have been fulfilled. The School enters its second decade next September with an established reputation. While it is proud of the academic success of those whose names appear on the honours board, it is no less proud of the success of the average boy: and while it is proud of the success of its teams and athletes in competition, it values no less the right approach to physical education. The present generation of boys have it in their hands to ensure that standards are maintained in every department.

To the names of boys who won open awards in 1964 must be added that of I. Hooper, who was awarded a Hulme Hall Exhibition at the University of Manchester. J. Mason (1955-1963) has been awarded an exhibition at Downing College, Cambridge, on the result of his Preliminary Examination at the end of his first year we must also congratulate P. Hildyard on his winning an Open Scholarship in Mathematics to Oriel College, Oxford, for 1965.

In April 1964 Mr. P. Newton left to become Head of the Geography Department at Dr. Challenor's School, Amersham. In July Mr. N. H. Ricketts left to join the staff at Brentwood School: Mr J. F. G. Williams left ta become Deputy Headmaster of Brockenhurst Grammar School, Hants: Mr. G. Dye, who replaced Mr. Tilbrook two years ago, moved to Bishopshalt. In December 1964 Mr. C. Chalmers left to join the staff af Hendon College of Technology, where he will be teaching Mathematics to B.Sc. standard. We wish them happiness and success in their new posts. I should also like to express the good wishes of the School to last year's assistants, Monsieur Lamour and Herr Einhoff.

In September we welcomed, in addition to Mr. Tilbrook, who has returned fram Malay, the following new members of the staff: Mr. C. Everest, MA Brasenose College, Oxford, who come as Head of the History Department from Battersea Grammar School: Mr. E. A Cox, M.A., University College, London, to teach Geography: Mr. Ling, B.Sc (Hons.) London, A.R.C.M., to teach Mathematics: Monsieur Ory. French Assistant: Herr Staudt. German Assistant.

The Junior Common Room is now almost paid for. After the Saint Nicholas Fair in July, the outstanding debt was £750. An appeal to parents has so far brought in about £150, so that there is every prospect that the outstanding interest-free loans will have been repaid by the end of July.

Academically. 1964 was another good year. Advanced Level grade A passes numbered 37 and there were four distinctions in "S" papers. The number of bays going on to full-time higher education was a record-no less than 55. This number includes four boys who began their secondary education at a Modern school, and the total is made up of 37 entrants to universities, 12 to colleges of Advanced Technology and others to training colleges. There are now over eighty boys at Universities, including nine at Oxford and eight at Cambridge.

I am sure that members of the School would like to congratulate the Old Boys on the remarkable record of their rugby XV in its first season.