Layout of School, 1957

Layout of the school, 1957-58

The accompanying three plans give a fairly accurate illustration of how the old building was used in its final academic year, before work on extensions and alterations commenced in the autumn of 1958. Over the years a number of screens and partitions had been erected in order to create space for classrooms, store rooms and other purposes. Points of interest include the following:

Ground floor

• The hall was used for assemblies, PE, musical and drama productions.

• Two woodwork rooms.

• Some old and derelict buildings had been demolished, in 1953, but others remained and were in a dangerous state; a tiled wall remained in the space created.

• The large cloakroom and wash basins were separated by a screen and door: access from the playground necessitated descending some steps from outside. This cloakroom was used as a ‘changing room’ when the boys went off to Games to play football, after which they washed in the basins on their return.

• Boys’ toilets were outside near the end of the playground. Urinals were open topped although the cubicles were protected by a sloping roof.

• The tuck shop was run by Mrs Wilson, who was affectionately known as ‘Dinah’ by the boys. A few steps led up to a stable-type split door and boys queued outside for sweets, ice lollies and snacks.

• The main entrance (for staff and visitors) and the boys’ entrance were on Ardwick Green North.

• On entering the building, boys walked along a very narrow passageway and eventually ascended some steps before reaching the main stairs.

• The back entrance was not used by pupils at this time.

• The entrance from the playground to the headmaster’s office and staff stairs was accessed via ascending a few steps.

• A lift took food etc to the floors above, rather like a dumb waiter.

• Bicycles were parked near the archway.

• Metal covers extended over eight manholes in the playground.

• The boiler room was in the basement below the hall.

• The area comprising the hall, wash basins, cloakroom and passageway/corridor was at a lower level than the rest of the ground floor.

• The old, disused and dangerous gym was open at the front and boys sometimes sheltered in it from the rain, contrary to instructions not to do so.

• Boys were often ‘lined up’ in the playground before entering the building in a quiet and orderly fashion under teacher supervision. (This practice was not too dissimilar to that shown in the print of 1880 of boys at drill in the Industrial School.)

• The room opposite the headmaster’s office – formerly the Staff Room – stored reference books and was used by the boys as a small library. It was also accessed via a door at the back of the stage.

First floor

• Mathematics, English and French in rooms 2 to 5.

• Corridor side of rooms 3 and 5 was a solid wall on which framed photographs of sporting successes were displayed.

• Corridor side of rooms 2 and 4 comprised glazed partitions.

• Caretaker’s flat.

• Science and chemistry rooms were separated by a permanent partition.

• Chemistry room comprised a teacher’s workbench, left, and two long benches for pupils.

• Science room was accessed via chemistry room. It could also be accessed via the music room but attempts to do so could be met with disapproval.

• Room 1 previously used as a 5th year common room.

• Public examinations were held in classrooms.