School Life: An Interview With Three Year 7 Students

Some of our Year 7 students

Saskia

What do you remember most about your first day at Redland Green School?

I remember being really scared but I've always liked new things so I was really excited as well. And Ms Baker came up to us when we were walking into school and I remember saying to her that we're all really, really scared and she said "I hope that's excitement too!"

What has been the best bit about going to Redland Green School?

I like making lots of friends and now at secondary school I have lots of new friends and I'm really happy.

And the worst?

Probably homework!

What subjects do you like best?

I like Humanities and English.

What hobbies and interests do you have?

I like reading a lot and I like swimming and I play football.

What did your day consist of yesterday?

Came to school and had my first lesson, which I think was French. Then there was another lesson. In break I usually go to a classroom called C402. It's used as a learning support room but at break lots of people go there to sit down with their friends and I usually go there at break. And at lunch I go outside with some of my other friends.

What's your favourite book?

I'm reading Lord of the Rings at the moment which I'm really enjoying. I don't have a favourite book as I like lots and lots of books, but Lord of the Rings is in my top ones.

Do you have a favourite website?

No but I like miniclip.com, which is a games website.

Do you have a favourite film

Not really. I don't watch films or TV much, but Mama Mia is really funny!

How do you get to school?

I walk to school because I live really close.

Do you take part in any after school clubs/teams?

I do rounders club and I did netball and football club when they were on.

Nicole

What do you remember most about your first day at Redland Green School?

I remember my Mentor Group. I remember being really scared and seeing all these big Year 10s and Year 9s. And I had English and not knowing the way and a couple of them were really friendly and kind and took me to my English lesson.

What has been the best bit about going to Redland Green School?

Probably my new friends. I just really like making new friends and everything that I do well gets recognised. That feels really special to me. There are certificates if you get merits. I got a lot of merits one term and I got a merit certificate for this. My merits were for doing good work in class and helping others, things like that. The school has a really nice design, it's really modern and everyone here really knows how to treat children. They are all really good teachers so far that I have had and I really like my time here.

And the worst?

Sometimes because the classes are quite big, if you're doing something hard the teachers can't get to you so easily because they are helping someone else.

Which part of the year have you enjoyed most so far?

I like Christmas because everyone was being really festive and putting decorations up. We recognised other religions as well as Christianity. Everybody got into it and there were stalls and fairs and lots going on.

What subjects do you like best?

I like Humanities. Actually, that's my favourite because I am really interested in that sort of thing, especially History and I have a really good teacher and I really like him. He teaches me a lot and he has a sense of humour. And I like English because we always do fun things, like advertising and making our own adverts. I like drama. I like performing. I haven't been in any school performances yet, but I did audition this year.

What hobbies and interests do you have?

I really like reading. I read an awful lot. I am reading a couple of books at the moment, including Jane Eyre. I am planning to read Peril at End House by Agatha Christie. I really like rounders, basketball and football. I went to girl's football club last term and the term before and that really helped me because I go to the training sessions. We are doing rounders now and I am finding that really fun.

What did your day consist of yesterday?

First I had double Design Technology and I'm doing Food Technology at the moment. On Friday I made some muffins and so we were evaluating the muffins. Next I'm making crumble so I was looking up recipes. After break I had Humanities. I can't quite remember what we were doing. After Humanities I had English, and we were planning our assessment, which was making up an advert using advertising techniques. I was in a group and we all had to be in charge of something and that was good fun. Then we had lunch. Yesterday I had a packed lunch, but normally I have lunch in the canteen with my friends. In the afternoon I had Science. We started a new topic so we were writing things down about Variation and Classification. Then we went home after science.

What's your favourite book?

At the beginning of Year 7 I read The Da Vinci Code and I really enjoyed that, and so even though I think it is supposed to be before it, I read Angels and Demons. And it was my favourite book I have ever, ever read. 

Do you have a favourite film

I like quite a lot of films. I like Twilight and I like Titanic.

Do you have a favourite website?

Not really. I go on lots of different websites.

How do you get to school?

I walk to school.

Do you take part in any after school clubs/teams?

I used to but then girls' football stopped. I would do rounders but I have a piano lesson that night after school. I do football after school as well and I do a Youth Club on a Fridays. Normally we have games at first and while we drink our hot chocolate our leader does a short talk, then I get to spend time with my friends.

Oscar

 What do you remember most about your first day at Redland Green School?

I remember we had to find our Mentor Groups ourselves. So I felt like the school could trust us, which I liked. We have a lanyard with a card on it, and we have to manage our own money. We all went a bit crazy at the beginning, spending too much money on drinks and things. It was quite scary knowing that at the beginning of Mentor Time in the morning it was just us with no one else, then later in the afternoon the Year 8, 9 and 10s were coming in. It was confusing not knowing everyone's names, but now I know everyone's names. Being in a Mentor Group is great as well because you have older people to help you out if you need them to. We all look out for each other.

What has been the best bit about going to Redland Green School?

The lessons. I like ADT because I've always loved to do cooking and making sculptures and stuff. I also like Science. Science in my old school wasn't very good. You only had it about twice a week. But here you have it about four times a week and it's really fun. You do practicals and writing down in books. The lessons are more confusing, but in a good way. Mentally challenging.

And the worst?

Mondays and Tuesdays. I am not a huge fan of English and I have English on Mondays and Tuesdays. Sometimes I find the homework timetable confusing.

Which part of the year have you enjoyed most so far?

I like the Celebration Assemblies at the end of term. I have had to stand up a couple of times because I have had quite a lot of merits. And I also like playing rugby. When the season was on I went on a rugby tournament. You missed a couple of lessons and lunch and you got to play loads of different schools. All the school trips are great too. We went to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Hippodrome, which was great. We had a brilliant view of the stage.

What subjects do you like best? Why?

Apart from ADT and Science, I also like PE. Right now we are doing athletics, which I am not that fond of. But I am quite proud because I didn't think I could do 800 metres. I did it in about five minutes and I didn't think I could do it at all!

What hobbies and interests do you have?

I like singing and I have singing lessons here. I like cycling quite a lot. It would be good if there was cycling club here, and you could cycle about Bristol with the school and cycle big distances. I do that a lot with my Dad. We go down to Weston-super-Mare and back on our bikes.

What did your day consist of yesterday?

I came to school and then we had mentor time. Then I had two lessons, then break, another two lessons, then lunch. Then I had one more lesson and then I went to homelearning in The Vista. You have teachers to help you with your home work. And once you have finished your homework you can read or go on the computer.

What's your favourite book?

I haven't read many books but I am reading a book by M.G. Harris, The Joshua Files, which is good. I read before I go to sleep.

Do you have a favourite website?

I go on sharenator.com. You have an account and then you can post your own games, pictures and videos.

Do you have a favourite film

Not really but I like funny films.

How do you get to school?

I walk.

Do you take part in any after school clubs/teams?

I used to take part in rugby. I will take part in the cricket club, but I lost my PE Kit! I go to scouts on a Wednesday, from 7.15pm to 9.30pm. You do loads of stuff. Sometimes you make fires, sometimes you play games, and every now and again we have camps. Scouts is quite fun.