Page 15 - link magazine

Only two terms left
Samantha Fryer looks back
I have juststarted myFifthYear (or
Yl 1 as they call it now) at Bradon
XQV Sch"l Forest School, which means that I
have only two terms left before I
leave the school for ever. I can still
remember my first day at Bradon
In the second of our visits to the four secondary schools Forest, four years ago. In these
serving West Swindon, we give over a page to students at four years I must have changed
Bradon Forest School, Purton. considerably but I have enjoyed
my time at Bradon Forest and this
has helped me a lot during the
quite difficult years. I think that
First impressions of Bradon Forest the school has given me a lot of
opportunity to prepare for life,
Mark Benson from Freshbrook has just arrived
academically and socially.
Becoming a First Year seems funny It is great fun having a tuck shop While my younger sister has been
especially having just been a Fourth at break times. This is something deeply involved in caring for the Youngest and oldest, Mark Benson
Year at primary school. Every- completely new to me. chickens in the Rural Science area, and Samantha Fryer
thing and everybody seems bigger There are many different things I have been finding Drama to be of One thing that I really appreci-
than me. I spent the last year being at Bradon Forest that I did not special importance to me. It has ate about being in this school is
at the top of the school but now expect. For example a music room, given me self confidence and in- that I don't have to be false or
I'm at the bottom again. kitchens, science laboratories, a troduced me to useful skills for the pretend to be something I'm not.
At first it seems funny walking gymnasium. As a First Year all future, such as interview tech- Most people in the school accept
from class to class. I have been these things are exciting to me. I niques, giving talks, communicat- you for what you are; those few
used to spending all my time in one am looking forward to making trips ing generally, and some manage- who don't are not worth bother-
class. It is strange leaving my house abroad. It is great being able to ment skills. ing about. I like the school be-
one hour earlier to catch the bus play rugby as this is one of my Public productions have been a cause you can walk along a corri-
instead of walking to school. hobbies. large part ofthe work in the Drama dor and people - both pupils and
Leaving primary school was sad There are a lot of things you can department, both in school, tour- teachers - will say hello to you, and
for me and my teacher. Mrs Evans do in your spare time at Bradon ing other schools, and at the Link smile, I feel part of the school, not
and Mrs Holman were the best Forest, like using the Library and Centre. I was in Shakespeare's just a pupil but a member.
teachers lever had. I did not want the Careers Room and going to 'Midsummer Night's Dream', One of the reasons for this is the
to leave my primary school but sports practices. I am enjoying playing the part of Hernia, and I way that pupils get a say in the
when I got into Bradon Forest I learning two new languages, enjoyed it immensely. The Eng- affairs of the school. Each tutor
was made to feel very welcome. All French and German, but my most lish department helped a lot with group has elected representatives
of the subjects are all right to me, favourite subjects are Humanities the character interpretation, and on the school's Council, who put
especially PE done by Mr Wells and English. exploring some of the text. I found forward their groups' views on
and Mr Taylor, English done by I am really pleased that I chose that the more I put into it, the good and bad things about the
Mr Churchill and Humanities Bradon fur my school because there more I was benefitting. school, and make suggestions on
taught by Mrs James. is so much to do there. Being in the Drama department what the school might do for the
has meant that I have met people pupils. The chairperson of the
with my own interests, and I can Council then puts these forward to
spend time with them in a relaxed the teachers so that they can dis-
A Busy Life in Y9 atmosphere. Nobody criticises you, cuss possible changes. This makes
or makes fun of you there, because all the pupils feel that they have a
Stevie Coram says she's getting a lot of encouragement to to be able to participate fully you say in the running of the school to
pursue her sporting interests. need to open up so that the atmos- which they belong.
phere relaxes and you learn to trust Another thing that I like is the
Hi! I'm in the third year (Y9) at run we benefit by getting to a really each other. way that individual pupils are ca-
Bradon Forest School. I'm very high standard. tered for. I have an interest in
keen on sport. We have PE twice There are quite a few other things Ancient History and six of us have
a week. There are two main sports that I enj oy in school, besides sport. been able to take an extra G.C.S.E
I enjoy - they are Netball and Metal work, in C.D.T., is good. in Classical Studies, in our own
Hockey. I'm making a door knocker, based time, with two teachers giving up
At the moment I'm very into on a horseshoe, for our front door their own time to teach us. I have
Hockey. The PE staff give us really at home. English is enjoyable, too, also been able to take my Maths a
professional coaching and they try and is getting really interesting, year early, so the class can go on to
to get you involved with out-of- and I like being able to use the do Further Maths. The teachers at
school clubs. For example, they Library whenever I want to. Bradon Forest show a real interest
have arranged for me to go to I do a lot of things these days, in helping you. If you want extra
Dorcan where the Wootton Bassett with all the sport and the clubs, information they will give you
Under 18s Hockey Club trains. and I play in Cricklade Town Band books or talk to you about it. In
Our PE teachers give up a lot of as well (E flat Bass Tuba), so get- general they don't talk down to
their spare time to help us and ting my homework done on time you, but with you. If you take the
recently we have been winning a takes a special effort sometimes. time to go and see them about
lot of our matches. Two of the Still, I seem to be coping so far, and something, they help and encour-
girls are having Netball trials for I'm getting a lot out of it. ageyou. I am enjoying my last year
England. We are made to work Right: Hockey isjust one interestfor at Bradon Forest. I like the people
hard in the lessons, but in the long busy student, Stevie Coram and the atmosphere.
Next month, we visit The Ridgeway School, Wroughton