[3] Johann Christian Hansen took over the school in 1852 during what was meant to be Schleinitz's temporary absence,[4] The Schule had moved to Flinders Street by July 1856, and was still in operation June 1857.
A feature of the (now boys only) school under their management was an annual march, accompanied by banners and Heinrich Schrader's brass band, to the Maid and Magpie Hotel, where students competed in a crossbow shooting contest, the target being the effigy of an eagle, perched on a tall pole, the champion archer being then crowned "king" and ceremonially escorted home.
[13] By 1874, following the opening of model schools, attendance at the Schule had started to decline, so Niehuus moved to smaller premises on Grenfell Street[14] opposite the Sturt Hotel.
In 1877 the Council of Education decided funding of the Schule should be extended for another year despite the recent opening of the East Adelaide school, on the grounds that it was the only suitable institution for students who spoke only German.
In 1880 Niehuus was appointed head teacher of the Hoyleton school, whose previous masters were Charles Otto and J. Friedrich Schüttlöffel.