Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
Schools generally accept children for boarding at 7 or 8 years of age. Not all childtren begin right away as boarders, An increasing number of children begab as day students and then start boarding later. This varies from school to school, but most suggest that the boys at least begin boarding by asge 11. The situation for girls is more complicated because many girls leave for their senior schools earlier than the boys. The children mostly recall their arrval at the school and what it was like to begin boarding for the first time. Most children quickly adjust, but it is more difficult for some children than others.
When we came up from Pre-Prep we had to do an exam. When I was doing it Ross started to tickle me. The moths went by and the summer holidays went by and ten it was the day of a lifetime. We went to hang up my blazer. I went into room 12 and Mrs Hicks said "Sit down!" I did.
The food, I guess is good but you have to eat it up or you will get told off. You have to go from room to room for your lessons. But best of all is tuck.
I can remember when I first came in, I got lost in the Haynes Building on the way to Computers; luckily Mr Edmounds found me. Ny most embarassing moment was when I walked right into Miss Barnsley's lesson. I have this dreadful habit of walking in on people's lessons and it gets me into a lot of trouble; I wish I could learn to knock! When I am sad my best place to go is in the summer-house, when I need to think. I love teasing the boys at school. I enjoy Queen's College a lot more than my other school.
When I started at Queen's College, i felt a funny feling inside me. When I went uostairs I didn't like anybody. The first night I was nearly sick. I was surprised by all the staff at this school.
I had a look around with my parents a couple of times--but this ws the REAL THING! As my parents left I was going to cty. After tea I was introduced to my boarder 'father', David Stewart. That night seemed endless. Eventually my eyes felt funny -- and I dropped off. Although I was slightly nervous at first, I gradually settled in.
By members of Form 1E near the end of their first term. Ben Bates, Natasha Rodney, Caroline Rickard, Paul House and Edward Weeks, Junior Wyvern (Queen's College Junior School), 1989-90.
At the start of term Ian Binghsm and I were new. It was hard at first because we did not know anyone, but we soon settled in. When we did our work Miss Foster said that we were quite good. We did rounders when we were on eighth game, but we soon moved to seventh game. ...
Richard Allen, 7.9, The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
I can still remember my first afternoon at Bramcote, when I felt like an ant in a giant's house --insignificant -- until one boy, unfortunately I can't remember his name, came to me and asked me my name and all about myself. Until then I never realised how comforting a small conversation can be.
Andrew Parker, 13.6 The Bramcote Magazine, Autumn 1978
