Here are some of the views of Year 7 students, collected in May 2016.
Louie
“I like dance the best because it’s a subject that let’s me express who I am. It’s a lot more advanced than the dance we did in primary school.”
“School prepares us for life. We’re expected to organise ourselves rather than everything being done for you. That teaches us how to look after ourselves and be independent.”
“There is a lot more equipment than in primary school. For example, in design technology we have sublimation printing, sewing machines, laser cutters. We’re using these things all the time.”
Noah
“I really like history, which is what we’re doing at the moment in humanities. I like learning about events in the past. It’s fun and we get to discuss things with other people. It’s not just working on your own.”
Naomi
“Being in school is amazing. You get another way of looking at how you can do things. You gain a lot of independence. You get to find out who you really are.”
“The teachers really push us. We have more to do. I really love sports and I have the chance to try out a whole range of different things.”
Thomas
“There’s a lot more participation – loads of after-school things. Me and my friend are both involved in Grease. The teachers have put in so much time to help us.”
Elijah
“My favourite subject is English. I get loads done. I am really enjoying learning about Shakespeare. We’ve been studying Hamlet. I love the fact that a ghost comes and speaks to his own son.”
“I really like the rewards system. My attendance was just on the borderline so it made me determined to attend every day so that I get to go on the end-of-term trip.”
Jade
“I like maths. The teacher challenges me – I get harder things to do so it really stretches me. I also liked Chester Zoo. I like animals so I like learning about them in science and then having the chance to go out of the classroom and see them for real.”
Kieran
“I like building up new friendships. You’re not with the same people all the time like you are in primary school.”