The 1980s were a time of great enthusiasm and fun.

Bill Scott was Principal until 1986 and the inter-school visits with Springwood High, the sports carnivals, school musicals, and Fun Days, were some of the wonderful activities of this decade.

The Bush Picnic day held in 1983 was used as a means of fundraising, but equally as important, it brought the members of the School community together in a common endeavour, which improved relationships within the School and promoted cohesion.

As well as billycart racing events of the day- included, chewing gum stretching, rolling pin, cow chip and gum boot throwing and chewing a map of Australia out of a biscuit.

The pattern of fun days continued, with the 1984 Happy Days. The costumes on the day were really something, as also, were some of the events- feeding partners while blindfolded and hula hooping.

The activities of the 1985 Fun Day - "Blast Out", were just as strange when they included stacking cups and plates into impossible towers.

1984 too, saw the first ever Senior Ball- an event, which continued in alternate years until the late 1990s.

Students at Jesmond High even had their own radio programme- 2JH. A group of keen students provided music and entertainment before the day’s lessons and during breaks.

The Students Representative Council still ran the socials, helped to organise the Springwood visit and assisted in the organising and running of cultural nights.

The ‘big musicals’ born in the 1970s, continued throughout the eighties with very high standards of production and involving large numbers of students and staff.

“Brigadoon”, “My Fair Lady”, “Oliver”, “Bye, Bye Birdie” and “Charlie Brown”, continued to build the reputation of Jesmond as a performing arts school.

The beginnings of an alternate curriculum in the mid to late eighties, through Vocational Education and Training were seen as a response to larger numbers of students, with a greater diversity in abilities, remaining at School for a longer period of time.

Special Education and the integration of students with disabilities were a part of the equity programs and a change of educational philosophy.

Students in the Partially Sighted Unit too, were encouraged to integrate into school events and activities and did so with great support from the student body.

All was not entirely positive in the School and as the 1980s unfolded, Jesmond High faced the task of adjusting to a reduced student population (down to the 700s by 1986) and the associated loss of teaching staff and executive positions.

The next decade was to see the school search for new relevance and a new identity in a rapidly changing educational environment.