First Impressions Amelia Rushmore-Perrin interviews two Year 7 students about their experiences during their first year at New Hall School... Jessica Whiley, 7KRX
Alex Groves, 7SMA
What is your favourite school dinner? “Jacket potato with cheese and beans.”
What is your favourite school dinner? “Baguette Day!”
What has been your favourite school trip so far? “Our trip to Mersea. There were team-building activities outside, like wall climbing, which was fun. Also, we found out who we would be in lessons with and I made some friends”.
What has been your favourite school trip so far? “The Year 7 Mersea trip was really fun. It was our first school trip and it was for team-building.”
Who is your favourite teacher and why? “Mr McMillan, my English teacher. I like him because he doesn’t get cross and he is really nice to everyone. Everyone listens to him so the class is usually quiet. He is firm but fair.” Has any lesson been easier than you thought it would be? “I expected Geography to be difficult because it was hard at my Preparatory School, but I have been pleasantly surprised.” What was your biggest fear about joining New Hall? “Making new friends.” Is that fear still an issue or have you solved it? “No, I made lots of new friends within a week.” Did you get lost trying to find your way around? “No. Because I had been to lots of Open Mornings, Educational Days and camps, I knew where to go. They gave us all a map on our first day too.” What is your favourite and least favourite thing about the school? “All the teachers are really nice and easy to talk to, which helps me with my studies. My least favourite thing is probably homework!” Do you do any co-curricular activities? “Yes! I do athletics, running, tennis, rounders, hockey and Spanish club. The clubs are all really good, especially the sport ones as we get to use all of the facilities, like the Fitness Suite.”
Who is your favourite teacher and why? “Definitely Mr Clark! He teaches Chemistry and he lets us do experiments every single week.” Has any lesson been easier than you thought it would be? “Mathematics. I thought it would be harder because it is so confusing. It is still challenging, but Mr Frost is my teacher and at the end of term he plays guitar and sings to us.” What was your biggest fear about joining New Hall? “I thought I would get lost, the buildings are so big.” Is that fear still an issue? “No, the teachers helped me when I got lost”. Did you find it was easy to make friends when you joined the school? “Yes, it was very easy as we were all in the same situation. My best friend is Cameron Isbell.” What is your favourite and least favourite thing about the school? “I love the food but I do not like subjects I am not very good at.” Do you do any co-curricular activities? Yes. I do fitness training and on Wednesdays I go to Redbridge tennis camp. I am on the tennis squad and I have tennis lessons with Mr Bennett. I love how there are so many opportunities for tennis, and the Fitness Suite is really good. Mr Bennett is a great teacher.” Interview
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