What our pupils say

Marianna Krupnikova in Year 10 and halfway through her GCSEs
Before I came to Stanbridge I was bullied by pupils and by my teachers because I was different. They thought I was stupid, not just dyslexic. None of them had heard of dyslexia.

When I was 13 I went to America where I was tested. I couldn't stand school. I tried my best. I really did try. They never realised how hard I tried. I had problems with everything. My writing and maths were my biggest problems. It was just horrible and I got bullied and victimised very badly.

For me, a typical day at Stanbridge would be to get woken by Mrs Lister around 7am. I shower and dress but don't go to breakfast - it's too early for me. I eat in the house and watch a film. Then off to my tutor group followed by lessons.

After lessons there are activities. We do sports three times a week and then art club, or something less sporty on the other days. Because I am dyspraxic I don't enjoy sports but I do them. I really enjoy the discussion group where we talk about current affairs and what goes on in the world. Last Tuesday we went to Westminster and that was really interesting.

After activities we get changed and have a break before dinner, then prep. After prep I can hang around with my friends, both boys and girls, or watch TV. Sometimes I go up to my room to watch a film or to read.

Things that have helped me most have been my ALC and MLC lessons. My ALC helps me with my reading and creative writing. I love to write but my spelling and grammar put me off it. I really enjoy reading now. I couldn't stand books before but now my friends can't stand it because I read so much.

Before, I really struggled in Maths. When I came to Stanbridge they put me in the top set. I thought it was a mistake and I waited to be moved but I'm still in the top set two years later. I think I'm doing tremendously well and really enjoy my one to one MLC lessons.

I used to have no confidence, but the one to one lessons have given me the most confidence. Although I still rely on my teachers, I have gradually become more independent of them.

It's surprisingly easy to make friends here and I've made very good friends with both the boys and the girls. I get on very well with most teachers which I didn't do in my old school. Rather than being told that I can't do this or that, the teachers here tell me the opposite and give me lots of confidence in myself. They're more than happy to explain things to you over and over until you get them rather than giving up on you.

Because I am an International Student, I stay in at week ends. It can be boring, but we are taken into Southampton on Saturday where I hang out with my friends. We shop and eat at KFC or Macdonalds. In the evenings we watch a film or read.

Stanbridge has changed me in many, many ways. I thought I would never be able to do things, but I have so much confidence now. I believe I can do the job I want - a psychologist. Although my maths and science are my weakest points, with all the help I get, I actually think I can do it.

Sometimes school is boring and frustrating but Stanbridge is a very wonderful school. I shall be moving on to another school next year, but I am very happy that I came here because now I actually have a chance.

Matthew Greathead in Year 12
Matthew has been at Stanbridge for five years. He is now in the L6th taking AS Art & Design, PE and retaking GCSE Maths and English.

A Typical Stanbridge Day
When you're on duty you wake up about 10 minutes before the start of breakfast. I have to make sure everyone is up, in uniform and ready for breakfast. I am responsible for checking the flow of pupils into the dining room.

I am responsible for waking myself up. We set our alarm, get a shower.
The sixth form are treated like adults. We are given the responsibility and respect by staff.

There are two or three of us on duty. When it's over we have to lock up the room and thank the dining staff. We have a break, before checking that all students are in chapel at 8.45. If there are any missing you have to check on them in their blocks. Sometimes we have to find a particular child for the teachers. Then back for a cup of coffee in the common room before lessons.

At 9.10 lessons start and continue to either 3.20 or 4.00. On Wednesdays lessons finish at 2.40. Lessons are 40 minutes long, but most of mine are doubles. ASs are very difficult and I need all the time to digest the information.

In my PE lessons there are 3 pupils in the group, in Art there are 6 to 8. The advantages of this are that I can ask all the questions I want and there are few distractions.

There are Junior and Senior lunchtime duties. The team of monitors and prefects sort out between them who does what. These teams work well if you get along with each other. The Head Boy and Girl organise the teams along with the Head of Sixth Form. You can negotiate who you work with.

After lessons there are compulsory activities; boys do football, rugby, basketball; the girls netball and swimming. I enjoy being in the teams. It's a privilege. There are a wide variety of team games. Depending on how good the sessions have been, games last for around an hour and a half.

I made friends in my dormitory groups and through my brother who is also here. I've got friends throughout all age groups. I know some of these friendships will last for years.

Then there's supper. Checking children in, making sure tables are clean. Breakfasts are good, dinner can be good. Lunches - there's a salad bar, quite a lot of variety and I like fish and chips on Friday and chicken on Mondays. Brunch on Sunday is excellent - lunch and breakfast together and a bit later, a good idea..

After supper in the week, the sixth form have a break, watch TV, relax and prepare for prep. Some days I go to the IT room. There are always one or two staff around. It's the students' responsibility to know what they have to do, but there are staff there to help.

The ALCs are excellent. You won't get them like this anywhere else. If you have problems you explain them to the ALC teacher and together you get things done. We know that without then we would not have got through the GCSEs and the same with MLC teachers in the new Maths Learning Centre.

At weekends there's Saturday school. After chapel at 8.45am, we talk with the Head of Sixth Form about careers, general topics and interview techniques. It gives us a view of the outside world. It prepares us for life.

I came here in year 9. Before I came here I can remember never knowing my times tables. Outside school things were alright. At Stanbridge there is this bond. I've got the guys I've grown up with. Some leave, some new ones come. Now there are six guys I've known all the way through. It's like a big family. We've all got the same sort of situations. I'm more confident. I've got my sport. My parents have noticed the change. Before, I never understood things. Stanbridge has really changed things for me. Stanbridge is magic.

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Robert Readman in Year 8
I've been here for a year and a half. Before I came here, the only thing that kept me going at school was my friends, nothing else. I was treated as if I was dumb, they just ignored me. I am dyslexic. I couldn't read, my handwriting was not very good, my spelling was awful, Since I have been here things have changed a lot, I'm happy here.

On a typical day, I get woken up, lights turned on and curtains pulled. It takes me about five minutes to get the energy to get up. After I've dressed I wait in the hall then go to breakfast. After breakfast I brush my teeth and then do whatever I want until tutor group at 8.50. Then lessons. They're quite nice, I actually enjoy them. I have English today, then half an ALC lesson because there's a music competition. I missed a whole Maths lesson because I was at the competition. At break-time I sometimes go into the ITC suite, then one lesson and lunch.

Before I came to Stanbridge, English would have been one of my worst lessons. In ALC lessons they just concentrate on you. These lessons help me with everything. I enjoy the Maths MLC lessons. They've helped me a lot.

At lunchtime I have the salad bar. I eat well at breakfast and at tea. After lunch I have about ¾ of an hour to hang around, then we do activities. We have two rugby lessons, one football lesson and a swimming lesson. On Saturdays we have PE in the morning and that's trampoline. My favourite activity is rugby. I play inside centre in the team and I think we have won only one game.

After activities we have two more lessons then, after half an hour's break, prep, which lasts 45 minutes. There are two teachers who will help you. But I think it's good and I could do with more time. I usually have four pieces of prep. There's a 15 minute break then supper and after that I'm free.

At weekends I usually go home. I have stayed at weekends and it was alright, but I'd rather go home.

At Stanbridge I'm the same as everyone else, I'm not 'special'. Now I'm treated as an equal. I like the school grounds and being out in the countryside. If I had had to stay at my last School I don't think I would have had much of a life.

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