The first was F B Gill (1894 - 1897), followed by W M Wilson (1897 - 1924), W D Evans (1924 – 1927), E Graham Laws (1927 – 1951), R V Gardner (1951 – 1958) and finally W Barwise (1959 – 1970).

Speech Day, 1911, was the occasion of the first performance of the School song, ‘Etiam Altiora Petamus’ (‘let us aim even higher’).

The first World War took a heavy toll with over one hundred Old Hanliensians making the supreme sacrifice.

An annual reunion dance was subsequently held for the upper school pupils.

In 1939 the military authorities commandeered the school, and the pupils were accommodated at Brownhills (Girls) High School, working a double shift system with the girls for a year until new buildings were made ready at Chell.

Thus, although present in name, the School would no longer be so in character and its particular contributions to the City over 76 years came to an end.