• Replies 6 replies
  • Subscribers 32 subscribers
  • Views 2210 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

My Old School

Yttrium

4.22am. Just got back from a walk to my old school. First time I've felt strong enough to visit it since I finished there in 1979. In fact the old red brick building I used to go to is demolished now. It's been replaced by an ugly minimalist lego-brick thing. The feelings I experienced as I followed my old route to school were intense though. I remembered how uncomfortable it felt walking down busy, narrow school corridors. I remembered a particular bully whose behaviour towards me I've been blocking out of my mind for decades. I remembered the A level classes being much smaller and more claustrophobic than previous ones. Also it's difficult to become "Invisible" at the back in a history class of only seven pupils. I'm glad I am able to face up to and deal with some of this stuff now. There were good times too. I made a few friends, I joined the chess club. It was tough for me though. I'm amazed that some smart teacher didn't notice how different I obviously was and have a word with my parents. I'm also genuinely amazed that I only played truant from that hellhole twice.  Smiley

  • in reply to AutToFindOutMore

    Thanks,  two of my old schools.

    The strange thing is that both schools were in a process of change when I first attended.

    I heared that Scott Hall school had after educational reorganisation been changed from a secondary school to a middle school.

    The school buildings themselves were not bad and a lot more modern than my previous Victorian schools.  We had grass!  And even a grass circular running track.  The middle of the main building was hollow and they kept rabbits in cages and a couple of live peacocks.

    Roundhay school was also in a process of change. It was a grammar school which was forced to become a comprehensive and accept run of the mill lower class pupils from the inner city.

  • People can revisit their old school in a way, by visiting reunion sites for example for two schools mentioned on this page:

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/45579537788


    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1415661402028531/

    Maybe good features of their old school might be mentioned or maybe someone might post about an unpleasant experience which other people might also have experienced.  Can maybe communicate with long lost old friends etc.

  • Memories!! !!!!!!   Of my old schools.  You brought them back.  Most of theses memories are bad.

    I have actually visited most of my old schools. 

    My first school was called Cowper street school.  A Victorian red brick building with a couple of temporary wooden huts.  The facilities and physical environment was awful.  As was the violence and bullying. A black tarmac playground and old classrooms with very tall ceilings. 

    My attendance at this school was under 50% of the time. Because it was so unbearable. 

    On some of my photo trips I have been past this school in recent years.  It's still standing, although now it's an academy. 

    My second mainstream school was Lovell road school.  Also an old Red brick Victorian with black tarmac playground,  no grass! And outside toilet blocks.

    One afternoon a week, we were bussed to grass playing fields a few miles away for sports.

    This school is gone, in its place we have housing.  I actually tried to pinpoint it's location on a recent visit.  But the place has changed with new Street layouts as well as houses.

    My third mainstream school was Scott Hall middle school, built in the 1960s, attended by me in the 1970s.  Demolished in the 1990s.  And the place is now a modern police station.

    My fourth mainstream school,  Roundhay high school.  Still standing.  But completely rebuilt. The main buildings have had the 1920s facade preserved,  but behind it,  it's a completely new modern building.  I visited it a couple of months ago.

    When I was there,  the sixth form was mostly located in an old mansion.  Now they have a dedicated modern building around four times the size.

  • Just discovered that there is excellent stop-motion footage of my old school being demolished on Youtube.   Smiley

  • If only we could go back in time! I didnt enjoy school and had bullying but no where near the type of bullying in schools now. I wish we could change the clocks back

  • I've always wanted to go and visit my old infant school - I have very strong memories from back then but they knocked it down a few years ago so it's something that's lost in time.