Public Exams

Public examinations – O-Levels and GCE, 1951

Introduced in 1951 as part of the educational reforms of that era, the O-level (Ordinary Level) was a subject-based qualification conferred as part of the General Certificate of Education (GCE). It was introduced alongside the more in-depth and academically rigorous A-level (Advanced Level). These new qualifications replaced the older School Certificate and Higher School Certificate respectively.

The O-level GCE was intended to cater for the increased range of subjects available to pupils since the raising of the school leaving age from 14 to 15 in 1947.There was to be no summative “school certificate”: each subject was a separate O-level in its own right. 

At first passes and failures were determined by percentage marks, with the highest achievers being awarded a distinction. From 1963, the O-level grades were numeric, with 1 to 6 classified as passes, and 7, 8 and 9 deemed failures. By 1975, the grading system had changed yet again, this time to alphabetic grades. Grades A, B and C became passes, with D and E failures and U as Unclassified.

St Gregory’s pupils sat examinations administered by the Joint Matriculation Board comprising the universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham. Most certificates did not include the grade that was awarded; this was issued separately on a results slip.

For most subjects (with mathematics being an exception) the examination was usually a single paper over two-and-a-half hours and was taken in the hall with teaching staff acting as invigilators. Strict regulations issued by the JMB were displayed and adhered to. In its very simplest form, the exam took the form of a pupil “entering an examination room, sitting at a desk with a fountain pen (no biros in the early years) and blank piece of paper (answer booklet) and with a clock nearby”. The invigilator would instruct nervous pupils when to begin and when to finish. Apart from that there was very little in the way of talking. Pupils had to answer questions based on what they had been taught largely over the previous two years. The front cover of most question papers carried the warning: Careless work and untidy work will be penalised.

The results would be published in August. Many pupils visited the school to obtain their results in person. Others had theirs delivered on the post card previously prepared in school.

The O-level syllabus and examination were very rigorous and designed for the more able pupils, perhaps about the top 20% of all fifth-year pupils nationally. Generally speaking, obtaining five passes was a fine achievement, especially if mathematics and English were included. For pupils who excelled there was the option of going to Xaverian College or St Bede’s College to continue their studies to A-level. Others went straight into the world of work at a time when jobs were plentiful. For those Gregorians who narrowly missed obtaining a pass mark, it could be difficult resitting examinations after having left the school and obtained employment. For youngsters such as these, resits could be taken at an external examination centre nominated by the JMB.

O-levels were essentially ‘grammar school exams’. Some educational authorities established their own leaving examinations for youngsters not taking GCEs. In Manchester, pupils in secondary modern schools generally sat the ULCI examination. This stood for the Union of Lancashire & Cheshire Institutes and credits were awarded for outstanding achievement in individual subjects. Some pupils at St Gregory’s took this examination in some subjects, the final sittings being in 1964 after which the CSE (Certificate of Secondary Education) was introduced. In some secondary modern schools some pupils would have taken some O-levels.

Royal matters

The school often recognised and marked the occasions of royal interest, both locally and nationally. The visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth to Manchester University in May 1951 saw all the boys from Forms 1 – 3 leaving school in mid-morning in order to line the route, after which an extended play was granted on their return to school.

A month later, all the boys were taken to the Town Hall at 1.20pm to see the parade in honour of H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth.

The announcement of the death of King George VI on the morning of 6th February 1952 was followed by an assembly at 12.15pm at which prayers were said, including the De Profundis.

For the late King’s funeral, over a week later, all the school observed two minutes’ silence followed by prayers.

Medical Inspection for deafness

A follow-up to this was that the small number of boys found to have a hearing problem were instructed to sit at the front of their classes.

Hallé Concerts

The reappointment of Mr Michael Callaghan as music master in 1951 was followed by the commencement of the practice of parties of boys visiting the Free Trade Hall to attend concerts given by the Hallé Orchestra during the day. In December of that year, for instance, a party of 110 boys and two masters attended the morning concert while 100 boys and two masters attended the afternoon concert. Two buses would have been used, with over 50 boys and one teacher on each. These visits continued for many years. 

Among those who taught in the school year 1951-52 were the following:

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