During the weekend, and any other spare time I had, I spent with my two best buds Samantha Pybus and Rebecca Hutchinson. We went to school together, as well as spending most of our free time together. We spent lots of time at both Becky’s and my house because we both had a big trampoline. We had so much fun on the trampolines! We used to bounce all day and never come inside, our parents used to bring meals out onto the trampoline for us! One night we even attempted to sleep on it along with Mark and his friend. It was all going well and we were having so much fun. Having mid-night feasts, telling secrets, playing dares- it was fantastic! We were just about to settle down and go to sleep, when we heard a bellowing sound followed by an almighty flash in the sky! A storm had broken out, as soon as I heard the thunder and lightening I grabbed my sleeping bag and ran inside as fast as my little legs could carry me! Everyone followed shortly behind except for Becky! She was left to bring everything in that we had left behind, it took her about five minutes and by the time she had entered the house she was soaked from top to tail! Bless her!
At seven years old, school seemed just as fun as playing with my friends. Our classroom was so brightly coloured it reminded me of a sweety shop. Our work surrounded us making us feel proud of what we had produced. The story-corner was my favourite part of the classroom. It was a small area with carpeted floor in the corner of the classroom. In there were lots and lots of brightly coloured cushions and storybooks. We also had the special chair at the back of the story corner which was a tall, posh chair covered in a blue sequined throw! You sat in the special chair when you had done something special or considerate to someone else in the class. I always used to feel so proud and special when I got selected to sit in the special chair. The story corner used to have different themes each week. The class would help to decorate it. I remember the sweet shop, the haunted house, the hospital and the dressing up room! We used the story corner when we read stories as a class or if you felt ill the teacher would make a bed out of cushions and let you sleep.
School days were jam-packed of fun activities. The work even seemed fun then, most likely because it was set in a practical and fun way. The morning of our school day began with working. Then during the afternoon we had fun time, which consisted of painting, singing, dancing, nativity plays, PE, baking, art and preparing assemblies being performed to the rest of the school. These in which are all educational in one-way or another! I used to love singing and dancing, every Tuesday and Thursday our class and the class above us would go into the hall and sing and dance all afternoon. We were always asked to get in partners with one boy and one girl. This caused havoc! I was always a partner with either my cousin Nathan McCabe or David Coggins!
The teachers always seemed so loving and caring. They would always make sure you were happy and enjoying your school life. Due to spending a whole year with the same teacher every day you got to know them really well and at school they were just like your mother. At seven years, our teacher was called Miss Melbourne, she lived near me. Throughout Primary school she was my favourite teacher. She taught me for three years in all.
Our school day was broke up with 3 playtimes. One at 10.15am time for a skittle of milk followed by a fifteen-minute playtime. Next playtime was at dinnertime 12.00am first we had dinner then the rest of the time we spent playing on the playground. The final one was in the afternoon at 2.30pm where we had another fifteen minutes on the playground. During the summer months, providing the grass wasn’t wet, we were allowed to play in the grass. Everyone loved t when we were allowed to play in the grass, the girls would play handstands and do rolly-polys down the hill, whilst the boys played football. During the other months we would all just play together on the playground, the games I remember were: stuck in the mud, block 123, kiss tig, tig, kit kat and mush, and when it was Tuesdays our class were allowed on the apparatus! During the winter months when it had been snowing we were told to bring wellies to school so that at breaks we would be allowed to play out in the snow- we built snowmen and had snowball fights. If it had been snowing we would wear wellies outside then when we came inside we were allowed to wear slippers for the day. There were an enormous variety of slippers! One day the head teacher decided to have a slipper fashion show to show off everyone’s slippers!
Every year we would have several performances in which the parents would come and watch. We had the Christmas Nativity every year. I remember in year 4 I was an angel. We also had the Midsummer Medley, which was like a music show. I was only involved in the Midsummer Medley in year five. I played the keyboard, flute, guitar and recorder! Every performance my dad would always film and it’s so lovely to watch them now. It’s also extremely amusing!
Christmas was a busy time at Primary School, so much was happening. We had Christmas parties, Christmas dinner, Father Christmas came and we had the Christmas Nativity play. The Christmas parties always used to be so fun we would make our own special Christmas hats; it used to be a competition. During the party Father Christmas came to visit us all and he would give everyone a gift and a tangerine!!! We used to play party games all afternoon and dance non-stop!
We had so much fun at primary school; it went so quick that before we knew it we were leaving in order to go to Ingleton Middle School! I was scared that it would be so much different and so serious and we wouldn’t have any fun. I was wrong!
The first day at middle school was extremely scary. I felt nervous about meeting my new teacher, making new friends and being bullied. Yet I was also extremely excited about making new friends, having a challenge and maturing! Part of me also felt curious, I was eager to try new things, have new lessons and have different experiences.
Now looking back at starting middle school, I really don’t know why I was nervous! I had such a good time at middle school too!
My life did change dramatically. I knew it was time to start thinking about life and I began to realize that life wasn’t jus a big ride and that it would be a big challenge! I matured tremendously and looked at life in a more adults form. Gradually I began to realize the importance of my education and knew that I would have to put a lot into life to gain a lot.
I now attend Settle College and writing this essay has made me think about how my education has changed from being fun in the past and presently beginning my GCSE course.
