Two boys from this year's Year 7 share their memories of their first day back in September 2007:

My First Day at RGS, by Rob

"It was the dreaded night before, and I had butterflies fluttering aimlessly round my stomach. I just couldn’t stop pondering about the day ahead, the start of a whole new life for me and thousands of other boys across the country as well. 

"The night before seemed as through it had run away from me and let my morning nerves and anticipation take over. BOOM, BOOM, BOOOM. My heart was racing; this put me off my breakfast. It will be all right, you will enjoy it. This is what my mum kept telling me. Deep inside me I knew that what my mum was telling me was true but the feeling would not emerge through the wall of nerves that enveloped me. As the time ticked on the butterflies got worse, it felt like insects were running marathons around my stomach. It was now when I started to wonder about the bus journey, whether there would be any other year 7s as terrified and concerned as me, and if I missed the bus what would I do?

"However, everything that I had worried about went smoothly. But the butterflies did not disappear. As I entered the school the size daunted me all over again; the older boys looked so comfortable there, yet I felt so awkward. Just before we were let in to the form room I started to wonder what the teachers would be like. Maybe they would be my worst nightmare. Or maybe they would be heavenly. I just didn’t know ANYTHING about what the day had in store for me. 

"I had calmed down a bit as the day gradually grew older but I still had a feeling that something would go horribly wrong. To make matters worse wherever I went it felt as though the older boys were staring as I walked by, like tigers watching their prey till they were ready to strike. The day progressed and the lessons went on and on, then finally lunch arrived and I had a moment to relax.  However, lunch did not go on forever. Music was the final lesson of the day. We sang the Bare Necessities, and while I took part in this I couldn’t help myself from imagining Mr. Venvell in a huge bear costume dancing to the tune and Mr. Bolton (who was also in the room at the time) in nothing but some animal skin next to Mr. Venvell. This seemed so funny at the time I almost burst into a laughing fit and I had to conceal the laughter which proved to be extremely difficult as Mr. Venvell turned his attention to me!    

"As the day started to draw to a close I began to feel a lot more comfortable and confident especially after the incident during music. I found that the teachers were comforting and nice, but this still didn’t get rid of one fear which I had to deal with, and that is whether I could cope with everything, not just the size of the school but the homework as well. When the day ended there was no other feeling I could have but relief!"

My First day at the Royal Grammar School by Jaimie

"My First day at the RGS. My gleaming, silver alarm clock woke me up with a start. I shot down the stairs like a bullet and had my breakfast. It was a lovely, cool, tender Sainsbury's blueberry muffin. So, it tasted great but I ended up chucking it in the bin anyway! I darted out of the kitchen as quickly as I could and my two sisters and my mum ambushed me straight from our playroom. They did not want to let me go but eventually they had to!

"My sisters dropped me off at the bus stop. A few friends of mine joined me shortly. When the bus came we all got on and sat together. RGS Here We Come!

"Finally, we were dropped off on the busy Chadwick Street. All of us made our way hurriedly to the Language Block when a friendly teacher told us to go to the Queen’s Hall. It was massive! Everyone was allocated forms, taken to their classrooms and given canteen cards. Our day had begun! That morning I had a maths lesson. We had a quick test to warm us up and we studied the basics of maths. This was followed by a religious studies lesson. We spoke about what it means to be good. Next we had a PE lesson which was extremely fun. We played basketball and we studied how we could keep control of the ball.

"Then as soon as the period bells rang I bolted to the canteen and to my surprise, I was one of the first people to arrive. I purchased a Slush Puppy to eat with my packed lunch and ran out before the queues got huge.

"The afternoon was fun. Geography was one of my favourite lessons that day. We were taught how geography is split up into two parts, human and physical geography. In English we spoke about what English is and how we use it. I knew English was going to be another one of my favourite lessons.
         
"English was followed by lunch. I had already eaten so I went to see my friends in the other classes. They seemed to be getting on very well. We finished off with a double music lesson. We all sung together “The Bare Necessities” and I was chosen to sing on the Open Day for year sixes! Finally, the day was over. It was a fun trip home on the bus but I had a pleasant, relaxing evening DOING HOMEWORK!"