South Holderness Technology College

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South Holderness Technology College is a secondary school in England sometimes called 'SHTC'. It receives extra funding due to its high curricular activity in technology, I.C.T. and science.

The origins of the school date back to the middle years of the Second World War and the Beveridge Report. In 1942 the Oxford University academic William Beveridge was asked to prepare a paper for the government outlining the problems that existed within British society. His famous report became the basis of the Housing act and slum clearance, the National Health Service and most importantly the 1944 Education Act. South Holderness School came into existence as a direct result of the 1944 act. It was recognised that there was a need for a secondary school in the South Holderness area. Children were generally educated until 14 years in a senior department of their village school. From there they entered the world of work as apprentices, farm workers, shop and office workers and so on. The 1944 act stated that all children should remain at school until they were 15 and that after 11 years old they should be divided up according to ability. This resulted in a so-called Tri-partite System. Simply put all children had to take an examination called the 11 plus. According to how you performed in the examination you were offered a place at a Grammar school, a Technical school or a Secondary Modern school. The East Riding of Yorkshire council provided grammar school places at Beverley Grammar School, Beverley High school and Bridlington School. A grammar school form was also provided at Withernsea School. In order to implement the 1944 Act the East Riding was divided up into catchment areas. A school was provided at the most convenient place within that area. In the case of South Holderness it was decided to place the school midway between Preston and Hedon. The catchment area was to include Aldbrough, Bilton, Burstwick, Coniston, Hedon, Paull, Preston, Sproatley, Sunk Island and Thorngumbald. The area to the north of our school was served by Hornsea and to the east by Withernsea HS. Only children within the catchment area of a particular school were meant to attend that school. South Holderness school was designated a Secondary Modern school. We must not forget that the East Riding Council never attempted to provide Secondary Technical schools in the way that Hull City Council did with Riley High school or Greatfield High school. Instead, simply due to an accident of birth, a child in East Yorkshire would be denied the chance of a Technical education whereas, over the boundary, in Hull, they could have been offered one. This school has been trying, for the last 4 years to put that right!

[edit] The School site

The council had to provide a totally new secondary school in the South Holderness area. As any local historian will tell you the town of Hedon is very small in terms of acreage and so another location had to be found. Land between the village of Preston and Hedon was identified and plans were drawn up. The school had a total area of 26 acres.

Unfortunately the local landowner Colonel Robinson did not see the need for a school on a large piece of his productive arable land and so he objected to the plans. The result was that the Ministry of Education along with the Council applied for a compulsory purchase order. This was granted after various objections. The architects were appointed (Johnson and Johnson of Doncaster) and the designing of the school began. Many East Riding schools have the same trademark brick work, floor surfaces and galvanised steel windows. Their structure and internal design features are very similar. South Hunsley, Beverley Longcroft, Withernsea, Headlands and Hornsea Schools all bear a great similarity. I suppose this is hardly surprising when one considers that they were being built at roughly the same time. At this moment in the school’s genesis a Headteacher had to be appointed. After all someone had to give life and form to this collection of buildings. In this matter the East Riding council were forward looking in that they appointed their heads 6 months before the schools were ready for opening. The opportunity arose for the head to incorporate own ideas into the building of the school at an early stage. The person appointed to lead South Holderness school was Stuart Frith a graduate teacher of chemistry and ex-British Army Major. Stuart was to lead the school from 1953-1974. For anyone who met or knew Stuart he was an unforgettable character. Stuart had an immediate impact on the building of the school by announcing that he wanted a minimum of plastered, and therefore painted surfaces. He also encouraged the provision of quarry tile floors along corridors and in the Entrance Hall. Stuart was a supremely practical person and realised the provision of bare brick walls and hardwearing floor surfaces would create minimum opportunity for graffiti and dirt accumulation. How modern and forward looking?

[edit] The First Days of the school

The school actually opened on January 12th 1954 with 365 pupils and 20 members of staff. The full staff list was: F.S.Frith. Headmaster L.F.Cockram. Deputy-Head Miss E.M.Brown. Senior Mistress Miss C.Devine. History A.S.McAllister. History Miss M.Clark. Needlework Mrs G.Pogson. General Subjects E.V.Wray. Rural Science Miss M.Fowler. General Science D.R.Rowland. Mathematics A.H.Rayner. Metalwork C.G.Spink. Woodwork J.Attenborough. Physical Education E.Jamieson. Geography R.T.Tadman. Art D.Walters. Art and Craft J.E.Baines. Commercial Subjects Miss P.Forrest. Domestic Science Miss E.Orr. Domestic Science M.A.Holt. General Subjects E.L.Riley. Music G.W.Dodds. English M.J.O’Sullivan. English

The very first day was taken in allocating pupils to classes and then the School Meals supervisor, Mrs Johnson, explained the system of school meals to the children. In the afternoon Mr Connor, the Chairman of the Governors, met the assembled school. Interestingly the Assembly Hall was unfinished and the school met in the Exhibition Hall.

On the 12th February a Parents’ Meeting was held and at that meeting a Parent-Teachers’ Association was formed. 350 parents met with the staff and viewed the school and its facilities. A PTA was fully functional by late February and holding regular meetings Stuart Frith wanted close community involvement within the school. As Sue Quarmby reminds us there were many occasional dances and Whist Drives held to supplement the School’s funds. Stuart Frith and his staff wanted the school to have a House system and famous local family names were used. The names were Albermarle, Constable, Hildyard and Strickland. The point of these houses was to give a focus to the many activities that schools take part in. Activities such as Athletics and Sports, Drama productions, school visits and Musical activities could be organised along inter-House lines.

One odd feature of these early days was the need for a Medical minor ailments clinic to be held in the school on Tuesdays and Fridays. I think the provision of GP’s in the area must have been under resourced and so schools provided an auxiliary service. The clinic provided replacement medical dressings for pupils who could not attend hospital or doctors surgeries. Of course at that time there was far less access to transport and the need for visits to hospitals must have meant long ‘bus journeys to hospitals. It may also have been that schools, doctors’ surgeries and hospitals were seen as part of the same organisational feature largely because they had grown out of the same Social security plan, the Beveridge Report. Today we often comment about the anti-authority and criminal way that some young people act. In May 1954 Stuart Frith attended the Sproatley Juvenile Court because 2 of his pupils were in trouble for theft of money. It was an aspect of Stuart’s attitude to his pupils that he wanted to be at court and representing his pupils’ best interests. The outcome of this unfortunate incident is not known but Stuart obviously thought enough of it to have recorded it in the school's log book. With the opening of the school Stuart moved into the Headmaster's house. This is the large house at the front of the school and just by the entrance to the upper school. The Deputy Head had a house by the 'bus park entrance. Today the Youth Service, as a centre for its activities, uses that house. The Head's house was sold off some years ago to a private purchaser. The Head Caretaker also lived in the school in what is now a staff room for the Music and Drama staff. Internal remodelling of the school has meant the Caretaker's flat is now almost obliterated but for those who can remember the rooms that the Matron used to have formed the Caretaker's flat. The school was built at a time when there was a distinct shortage of building materials. Steel was in generally short supply and wherever possible other materials were used. The architects specified a pitched roof to be added to the school but unfortunately flat roofs were added. This was to prove a constant headache in the future for maintenance.

One interesting anecdote came from a conversation with one of the bricklayers, a Mr Holt, who had worked on the school's construction. Apparently the men were very proud of the new building and were getting to chamber joist height. As any builder will tell you the next job is to start moving the trusses in for the pitched roof. There was general disquiet when the men were informed that there would be no pitched roof but a flat roof instead. In fact my informant told me there was a serious threat by the men to walk off the site!

In this picture we can see the Staff Football team; Stuart Frith is in the centre front row of the photograph. On the front row we have Ernest Riley, Mike O'Sullivan, Stuart Frith, on the back row we have John Attenborough and Don Rowland 3rd and 2nd from the right respectively. The rest of the players are unknown to me but perhaps there were friends and relations as well as staff. Surely in the early days there would hardly be enough staff to field a full XI. Their opponents are also unknown to me. However anyone who had been captain of a school team that contained Sir Stanley Matthews as Stuart Frith had been was bound to be keen on soccer and understood the value of team work. A special mention should be made of Mike O'Sullivan he was still playing for the school's staff team as late as the 1974/5 season and believe me he was a cultured player in the Pat Crerand mould. Don Rowland had a long and distinguished playing career with Bridlington Trinity and later Withernsea AFC. Ernest Riley was an enthusiastic player who played for several seasons. His son, Ben,could have played for Manchester United but chose University instead. Perhaps we should reflect that all these men had seen active service in HM Forces or had been through National Service. They knew and understood the benefits of team work and camaraderie. One of the reasons for the school's early success is, in part, due to the experience/perspective these people brought to education. The school's playing fields are amongst the best in the county. They rarely flood and the engineer who supervised their drainage did an outstanding job. It's as well to remember that the area is built on strong boulder clay with some ‘running sand’ not good naturally draining materials. Only rarely have I ever known the need to cancel sport's fixtures because of foul weather. A succession of knowledgeable groundsmen principally Messrs Buck and Myers have bequeathed the results of their expertise to future generations.

The school has turned out a stream of superb games players and athletes. Some that come to mind include John Hart (England under 15 Soccer captain), Chris Chilton (Hull City), Steve McNamara (England Schoolboys, Hull FC, Bradford Bulls), Richard Gotts(Rochdale RLFC, Skirlaugh ARLFC), Sean Hoe (Hull KR), Dean Ralph (BARLA RL, Skirlaugh ARLFC), Andrew (Chico) Jackson (Hull FC and Featherstone), Adrian Bullock (Hull FC), Bob Everitt (Hull KR), Danny Pipes (National Swimming Relay Record Holders), Ivan Hawley (Hull FC), Matthew Everitt (Hull KR), Simon Townshend (Hull KR), Sean Moore (Hull KR), Kate Richardson (England and GB Swimming Squad Member). I know that there are others who have not been mentioned but in each case the above owe a great deal to the knowledge, dedication and enthusiasm that the PE/Staff members have brought to bear in their coaching.

By 1956 the school was moving along nicely and on the 15th November the Schools’ 2nd Speech Day was held. The speaker was the Sheriff of Hull and the Chairman of the School Governors, Mr Connor, presided. The prize winners included L.Rymer as Head Boy, Michael Marvin won the Headmaster’s prize and June Anderson won the Girl’s PE prize. Strickland House won the House trophy.

Francis Thompson read a verse entitled the Kingdom of God and the whole school sang the hymn “Praise my soul the King of Heaven”. We can see from the photographs taken at the Speech Day that the pupils were immaculate in their uniforms. Later in November we know that Mr Victor Clark the Chief Education Officer was invited to attend the PTA and give a talk about UNESCO. In February 1957 the school made a small piece of history. The boys’ soccer team had won the Daily Dispatch/News Chronicle Yorkshire Trophy. The final had been won 4-2 against a school team from South Kirkby. Mr Richardson, Deputy Chief Education Officer, attended an assembly to present the trophy. This was the first time any school from East Yorkshire had won the trophy. Later on that year the same team beat Batley Grammar School in the Kensley Trophy. Perhaps their sweetest victory was in beating the staff team 3-2 in April of that year. On the 19th May 1957 a very sad occasion is recorded in the School’s Log Book a pupil died after a short illness. The boy was in 4G and had only a few weeks to go before he left the school and entered the world of work. Mr O’Sullivan, his Form Tutor, and a group of his schoolmates went to the funeral. One can only reflect upon the effect such an event had upon the whole school. In May 1957 the school began to look into the possibility of rearing and keeping livestock on the school’s site. Mr Acaster from Bishop Burton College gave a talk about such a project and a discussion ensued. There must have been sufficient interest in the project because Messrs Mess and Wray and a group of pupils were definitely keeping pigs and hens by 1957. The pig stys and hen houses were originally positioned on the present day staff car park and tennis courts. It is not surprising that the school had such a strong Rural Science department after all it was educating many “sons of the soil”. Pupils gained more than an insight into caring for and breeding pigs, hens and even rabbits. Although the latter scheme ran into a little local

difficulty when it was found that the rabbits were to be sold for butchering. Pig breeding certainly enlivened the school’s day. The old sow would occasionally escape and disappear across the Games fields through startled pupils and eventually be captured by a group of laughing RS pupils and a distracted teacher. On a more serious note the school pupils would be told when to stay away from the pigsty because farrowing was under way. There was great interest over this because the more piglets born the more money the shareholders made in the Pig breeding scheme. The pupils were the shareholders and therefore had a very real interest in ensuring the old sow was well cared for. The down side to this was that everything had to be done everyday for 365 days of the year, winter and summer. It required a not inconsiderable amount of dedication. In July 1957 South Holderness lost one of its founding members of staff when Mr Greenwood, the School’s caretaker, became Custodian of the County Hall, Beverley. Mr Frankish was appointed in his place. Many people will remember with some affection Mr and Mrs Frankish who gave the school such sterling service as Head-Caretaker and Office assistant. Soon after opening for the new academic year in 1956 there was an outbreak of “Asian” influenza. The total percentage in attendance on the 27th September was 44.9%. There were 6 members of staff absent. In February 1958 the school was closed because of heavy snowfalls. Less than 100 pupils could make it into school on foot from Hedon and Preston. The majority of the staff were also absent. It was in 1958 that Mr Cockram left the school to take up the Headship of Helston School in Cornwall. He, along with Stuart Frith, had been responsible for setting the school up and his success can be judged from the speed with which he became a headmaster. Mr Scott was appointed as his replacement. By September 1958 the school’s numbers had risen to 661 pupils with a tiny 6th form of just 9 members, 1boy and 8 girls. It was in the same month that the school decided to have a 5 form streamed entry. It was thought that this would help improve academic standards within the school. In fact the recently introduced GCE examination was becoming the “gold” standard by which schools were going to be judged. South Holderness could not afford to stand still and watch other schools forge ahead in this area. Mike O’Sullivan, Don Rowland and Eric Walton seemed to do much to introduce GCE’s into the school and point the school toward curriculum change. The one huge disadvantage that South Holderness had was that we were a County Secondary Modern School. Our brightest pupils in the catchment area went to Withernsea HS and joined their grammar school form. The success that the staff had in achieving good standards with in the school can be judged from the fact that once started the 6th Form blossomed and grew very quickly. Let’s hear Bryan Richardson take over the story. “As always the problem was accommodation and 4 small rooms were allotted to the 6th Form. These were on the top corridor of the present Lower School. Two of the rooms are used as a Resources Print room, the others are the Head of English’s office, the Interview room” History of South Holderness School

It does seem that space was at a premium and that lessons were being carried on in storerooms and various odd corners. Eventually the 6th Form moved into the Domestic Science flat, which the Head-Caretaker had vacated. It was there that illicit coffee could be made and the 6th Form began to acquire a more adult and responsible feel to it. In 1974 the 6th Form moved into the backstage area of the Lower School. This is the area that had been the Medical Centre but with time its need had ceased. So once again the 6th Form was on the move. It was in this area, the one now used by SEN. that I personally remember having some of the best discussions and lessons during my time at South Holderness. Today the school’s 6th Form has been housed in a purpose built centre. Unfortunately the architecture is not in keeping with the rest of the school but that’s what the Education Authority provided us with. Bryan also mentions that one of the first to enter University was Robin Mills. He was Head Boy in 1960 and then became a lecturer in Geography at the University of Abadan, Nigeria. Robin later married European royalty. Apparently ALL the staff were invited to the wedding but because it was held in term time only Stuart Frith could attend. Bryan Richardson had much to do with the early academic organisation of the school. He mentions the change in titles of many of the departments. At one time there was Cookery and Needlework, then it became House Craft, then Home Economics and then Domestic Science and now it’s known as Food Technology. Similarly there have been changes in RE which was once known as Scripture and then Religious Instruction and now Religious Education. History, Geography and RE are now lumped together in a Humanities Faculty. Talking of Geography reminds Bryan of a rather amusing incident. The school had its own weather station and, of course, a rain gauge. During one fairly dry spell Mr Knighton noticed that there seemed to be a fairly full gauge. This went on for some time until he realised that someone had been using it as toilet! The Met Office was being given readings of someones’ bladder content not rainfall. Don Rowland had been appointed in 1954 to teach Mathematics and Science. Don has kindly sent in some of his earliest memories of the school. He recalls that there were originally 7 periods in the school day, 4 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. Each period lasted 40 minutes. Today we have 6 periods lasting 50 minutes and in September 2004 we shall have 5 periods each lasting 60 minutes. Don goes onto say that Monday mornings were always hectic because during period 1 dinner-money had to be collected and one particular occasion Don’s turn to read the lesson in the Assembly had come around but he had failed to notice. He was up on the balcony keeping order. The Head sat down and there was a long wait whilst the member of staff came to the stage to give the relevant reading from the bible. The wait went on in complete silence. Children began to fidget and staff looked at one another until Don realised that he was meant to be giving the reading. He was trapped on the balcony and unable to extract himself from the situation and so after an age Mr Frith stood up and gave the reading himself. Don felt extremely awkward for some minutes. In his first year of practice at South Holderness Don taught 20 lessons out of 35 and in subsequent years he taught 28 from 35. Today a MPG teacher can expect to teach 26 from 30. Bryan Richardson recalls one particular memorable event that took place in the early 1960’s. When he and Mr Rotherham took 200 pupils on a Diesel train from Hedon Railway Station to Driffield, Malton, Whitby and Scarborough and then back to Hedon. This trip would not have been possible after 1965 when British Railways began their closures of much of the unprofitable lines within the system. Withernsea and Hornsea also lost their rail connections at the same time. One other founding member of staff was Ernest Riley. Ernest taught music and can remember visiting the school for an interview with Stuart Frith. He writes “I applied for the Music post at SHS after teaching at Bilton School for one year. I visited the area where the school was to be built, fields, fields and more fields.” It’s fascinating to remember that Ernest actually recalls the site before its development. The first staff met about 12 months after his appointment and he remembers Stuart Frith asking everyone, “To forget their previous experiences, and concentrate on confronting the exciting prospects ahead.” It certainly seems that Stuart had a very real desire to push this new school forward according to his own particular vision. Ernest was there, of course, on the very first day. His memories are quite vivid, he was there early to receive the pupils and when some of the Bilton pupils saw him they yelled their greetings, as children are likely to do. Mr Frith immediately ran from his Office wanting to know what the fuss was all about. Mr Riley felt as if something wrong had occurred when in fact it was simply good-humoured youngsters excited to see a familiar face. Many ex-staff and pupils of the time remember that there were very strict rules about uniform and behaviour in the school. A punishment list was read out every Monday morning and indeed a Punishment Book was kept recording all the beatings that were administered. An amusing observation from Ernest comes in his recollection that there were only 2 cars outside the school, the Heads and his Deputies. Contrast that with today’s scene, a car for every member of staff, caretaker, CSA’s, Admin staff and 6th Former. How times have changed? Olga Porter, Joyce Davies and Sue Quarmby were 3 members of staff who were here in the 1960’s and ‘70’s. Their recollections of the school are very detailed and include insights as to how the school was organised and what it was like to be a member of staff under Stuart Frith. All 3 seem united in remarking upon Stuart Frith’s autocratic attitude to his job and his manner could be dictatorial, even terrifying. In some instances this took the form of Stuart entering a teacher’s room to inform them that the windows needed ‘opening’ or conversely ‘closing’. Staff dreaded being asked to his room to be reminded about their classes’ lack of discipline or their time keeping. Their record books always had to be to hand for inspection. One very amusing incident occurred when Mr Frith took a member of staff to task in front of his class. The member of staff turned to Mr Frith and said, “I’m sorry Mr Frith there’s a boy at the back of the room who didn’t quite hear that”. Mr Frith’s answer was not recorded. Stuart Frith was not some uncaring tormentor who did nothing for his staff. All 3 teachers recall that he encouraged his staff and gave them a sense of confidence. Sue Quarmby recalls with some warmth the memory of Mrs Pogson. A Senior Mistress who could by, gentle persuasion, authority and presence, get the best from the girls and female staff. I can just remember Mrs Pogson she looked after me when I came for my interview in June 1973. She was every inch the matriarch dignified bearing, confident manner and er… purple/blue hair. The Garden Fetes were a particular favourite of many pupils and staff. Sue Quarmby and others ran a cake stall in the Exhibition Hall. Olga also recalls that Mr Myers the gardener produced buckets and buckets of flowers for sale. Every member of staff contributed in some way and this endeavour did much to unite the school in a common purpose. Sue was also delighted to regale me with the time that John Gledhill performed as the Sugar Plum Fairy in a staff production for Christmas. At the same time many of the female staff dressed up as members of St.Trinians. This must have been quite a treat for the pupils! I suppose we must remember that the 1950’s and 60’s were decades in which there was natural deferment to authority. Discipline was partially kept by reliance upon prefects who were unpaid upholders of the School’s good order. Contrast that with today’s 6th Formers who are paid to do the same job that their parents did for nothing. Apparently one particular favourite activity of the girls was an Annual Fashion Show. Betty Johnson was a Needlework teacher with a great talent for costume and dress. The girls loved her lessons and they loved to show off their creations at this annual show held in the Assembly Hall. The Assembly Hall was also the scene for some good dances held with Eric Walton’s ‘Glen Miller’ style band. These dances were very well attended and I have heard some of the older people in the area talk about them. Apparently buses collected people at their villages and then returned them in the small hours. Much of this was organised under the auspices of the PTA.

In 1967 the Youth Centre was added to the Lower School. Today it is the Year 9 Area. The exciting thing was that HRH the Duke of Edinburgh performed the opening ceremony. He arrived by helicopter, landed on the school field but apparently he was hungry and wanted to dispense with the ceremonies as quickly as possible. It was certainly a red-letter day for the school and many people commented on the immaculate state of the grounds and buildings. Joyce Davies, Olga Porter and Sue Quarmby all write that they were so proud to have been part of such a successful school. They also mention the marvellous successes enjoyed by pupils from the school. In fact Glynn Davies is now Head of Nuclear Physics at the Hull and E.Riding hospitals. Talking about ex-pupils who have gone on to do well we must remember Peter Whiting who, after taking his degree in Mechanical Engineering at UC Cardiff, is now the Managing Director of a Steel Company in the USA. Peter’s mother Enid still lives in Preston. Dr Andrew Bunting took his medical degree at London University and now practices locally. Dr Sandra Quantrill is also an ex-pupil. Jonathan Holmes’ parents live opposite the school and he continues to work abroad as an Accountant with Price, Waterhouse and Cooper in Prague. There are literally dozens of highly qualified ex-pupils be they lawyers, teachers, doctors, engineers, accountants or business professionals who have passed through the school and have gone on to great things in their chosen careers. An interesting account of the school’s academic development comes from the Speech Day of 1960. This was the school’s 6th Speech Day and we can learn much from it. For instance there were 37 pupils entered for a total of 165 subjects. The pass rate was 64% that percentage was 10% higher than in 1959. The school also had its first Advanced level candidate in Marion Sheppard. Marion took 2 ‘A’ levels successfully and then entered Teacher Training College. In the more practical RSA examinations 30 pupils took 95 subjects and 68% were successful. Gillian Larder and Kathleen Dearing did particularly well in Shorthand and Typing and both had a good GCE certificate. However Stuart Frith was all too aware that pupils were not taking courses after their compulsory schooling was over that were a true reflection of their ability. At the same time he also went onto refute an opinion that less able children were being ignored because of the school’s interest in driving up examination results. This was strongly refuted. It is apparent that the school was actively engaged in trying to get a Grammar School stream into the school. The galling thing for Stuart Frith and his staff was that the academically most able pupils were being siphoned off to Withernsea HS to join their school. It was obvious to everyone that South Holderness could easily support a stream of more academically able pupils. However nothing came of the efforts of the Head, Governors, PTA or the Staff.

The period 1963-73 was one of unprecedented growth as the school saw its numbers climb from 650 to 1200. This huge growth was due to 2 main reasons the huge expansion in housing in the area and the raising of the school leaving age from 15 to 16. Such changes were also to go hand in hand with the move to comprehensive schools for all under the Labour government of Harold Wilson. Whilst school numbers climbed so to did the number of staff in the school and the school buildings also grew. Staff including John Gledhill, Sue Quarmby, Don Elcoat, John Smith, John Knighton and Graham Wood joined the school. One of the most difficult decisions to make was how the school should physically grow. There were essentially 2 contrary opinions. The first wanted the school to grow using add-ons to the main school buildings. For example by building on top of some of the single storey buildings and adding a new wing by pushing out eastwards along the back of the school. The second idea was to build a completely new wing to the school over the other side of the school’s playground. As we know the second idea won the argument and the Upper school came into existence. From 1972 onwards South Holderness school was to be made up of a Lower and Upper school. Even today 30 years later opinion is still sharply divided over this matter. I leave the last word on this to Sue Quarmby. “Finally the day came when the Upper school was opened. This split the school and especially the Staff. A retrograde step, things were never the same again. The spell was broken and the magic went.” This was how one member of staff felt but I think that there were others who felt the same. The school was growing quickly; perhaps too quickly.