Mr Amess was the second Headmaster of our school but the first for the Stratford Technical High School.

He was introduced to the school on 8th February 1922 and the school moved into the current location on the 13 th February 1922. Mr Amess was designated as the Director of the school by the Taranaki Education Department (TED) and in 1926 this changed when the school had 'absolute control vested in the Board of Managers' the previous October and it became a self-administering secondary school.

Mr Amess retired from the school at the end of 1948 after 26 years service to the school where the roll had increased from 163 in 1922 to 441 pupils at all levels. 1948 was a tragic year with poliomyelitis affecting a number of students and school activities. The school year started late 1st March and several sporting fixtures were restricted or cancelled. 1948 also saw the first indoor basketball competition organised.

The core team of Amess, Bowler, Johnson, Misses Knight and Martin had taken the fledgling school from buildings and bare grounds to a secondary school with curriculum emphasis on agriculture and mature grounds. The curriculum emphasised success in traditional subjects and Mr Amess left a legacy in the minds and hearts of pupils, staff, parents and the community. He was succeeded by Mr A W White.

House Leaders for 2009 are Shaun Baldwin, William Stanners, Alice Walsh and Aimee Walker. If you follow the links you can discover some interesting things about them. See them at house events encouraging their house to compete well.

Recently the student council ran a family class photo. Following are the Amess House form classes entries: