Here she is ready for her very first day at school, back in September 2002, she'd just turned four in July.
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This was taken in September 2009 on her first day at secondary school. I can't believe how she's grown up in the last five years.
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Another one for the album, taken this morning on her last day in school. She's glad that she doesn't have to wear a tie any more.
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Eleanor's now on study leave, only having to go back in to school when she's got an exam scheduled. She's going back to sixth form in September to take A levels, but I'm sure she'll feel different knowing that she doesn't have to be there and that it's her choice.
Eleanor's had the same form tutor for the full five years she's been at secondary school. When she first started, he got the class to write a letter to themselves which he kept and handed back out to them yesterday.
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They were supposed to write about what they liked and what they wanted to do in the future. This is Eleanor's. She only took two of the options she said she would, and she no longer wants to be a fashion designer.
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This is what she wrote on the back of her letter.
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I did as I was instructed and this is what I found.
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Matthew was Eleanor's first boyfriend and they're still good friends, awwwww.
They all signed each other's shirts today, leaving lots of good luck messages for the future.
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Eleanor's always loved school so today has been a bit of a wrench. Lots of her friends are going off to different sixth form colleges so it's been a sad day having to say goodbye to them all, but I'm sure the future holds lots of good things for her.
Oh my good ness. It always amazes me how quick the years seem to go. I only have number 3 in school now and I know the next few years for him are just going to whizz by.
ReplyDeleteI think time passes by even quicker as they're growing up, it doesn't seem two minutes since she started secondary school.
DeleteIt's always sad when your child leaves behind a part of their life. I love what her form teacher did, they change so much in those five years! Harry never understood the concept behind the shirt signing although that was when he left primary, he only wanted people he liked to sign it! I hope he changes when he leaves secondary school!
ReplyDeleteI remember when she left primary school, all the parents were invited in to their leaver's assembly and we all sat there sobbing. I thought that was a lovely idea that her form tutor had, Eleanor was excited to get her letter back, she'd remembered some of the things in it but not others. I'm with Harry, who wants to remember people you don't like?
Deletethey grow up fast!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly do. I can't believe how young she looked when she started secondary school, she's done a lot of growing up in the last five years.
DeleteEnd of an era! And you no longer have any school children!! Eek!
ReplyDeleteIt's such a scary thought. Of course, she's going back in September so not too big a change yet.
DeleteI'm sure whatever she chooses to do Jo, she will do well. I remember being so upset when my youngest son went to high school from infants. I cried all the way through his leaving assembley and now his oldest child will be leaving her infant school this year!
ReplyDeleteI was just the same when Eleanor left primary school. It's a bit different at secondary school as you're not quite so involved, but still a huge step when they leave.
DeleteThe letter is a lovely idea. Time passes so quickly doesn't it? KL took her final exam of the year on Monday, so we'll be moving her back again soon!
ReplyDeleteI loved the letter idea, it was fun seeing what she'd wrote five years ago. I hope KL's exams have gone well, Daniel's only just started his, he's a while to go yet.
DeleteWishing Eleanor all the best for her exams. Does she know what she wants to do now? They do grow up so fast and our eldest granddaughter is finishing Year 12 here in Oz this year. Take care.
ReplyDeleteEleanor's got an idea what she wants to do, but of course, it can change between now and then. She's going back to the sixth form to take A levels which takes two years so we'll see if she's still got the same ideas then. As you say, they grow up so fast, I can't believe how those years at school have whizzed by, I don't think the next two will be any different.
DeleteOur children leaving school is not only a huge change for them but also for us. Enjoy the next stage, Jo - and Eleanor!
ReplyDeleteIt is a huge change, but with it comes lots of new and exciting experiences. Eleanor's a bit downbeat about it really but I keep trying to put the positives forward, no point in looking back when there's a whole life to live.
DeleteWhat a nice post, Jo. I don't know much about your school system there, so the timeline is foreign to me but it sounds like Eleanor has had a full and happy school experience in school. I wish her all the best.
ReplyDeleteEleanor has really enjoyed her school years, it makes such a difference as a parent when your child enjoys going to school, it must be awful for parents of children who don't want to go. Eleanor's had a brilliant experience, both from the learning side and the social aspect too.
DeleteThey do grow up too fast! When you look through pictures its just crazy how much they grow and change.
ReplyDeleteI see the Year 7s at school now and don't remember Eleanor being that little or looking so young when she started secondary school, but looking back at photos, she was. It's amazing just how quickly they do grow and change.
DeleteI really like that idea of writing yourself a letter ,that's a brilliant tutor to have kept them all and hand them back years later. Time flies by. I have a 26 year, school , uni seems like it was years ago. My youngest is at uni and today is her 20th birthday I feel incredible old today.
ReplyDeleteI am wishing Eleanor good luck in her exams
Eleanor had remembered writing the letter when she first started secondary school but didn't think the tutor would still have it, the class were all thrilled when they got their letters back. Happy birthday to your daughter, I hope she's having a lovely day. It does make you feel old as our children grow up.
DeleteThe years pass by much too quickly in some ways that's for sure. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteThey surely do, especially as we get older.
DeleteCongratulations to Eleanor, I hope that her exams go really well and that she has a great time in the Sixth Form when the time comes. She really has grown up so very much over the years of your photos - which is of course obvious I know - but I bet that you are amazed when you look back. I love the idea of the letter to oneself and that the teacher kept them all this time and handed them back. That really is amazing. All the best to Eleanor! xx
ReplyDeleteEleanor's always enjoyed school so I'm sure she'll enjoy sixth form too. I think we expect to see a big difference in photos from primary school to secondary school, but not so from the start to the end of secondary school, I was amazed when I pulled the photos out. The letter is a really good idea, it will be going in the keepsake box.
DeleteThis post was so sweet, especially as I'm going through the same thing here, although Eden only did secondary school as she was home educated until then. Her last day of school is 16th June. Lots of her friends are off to different places too. I can really "feel" this post, for want of a better word. Her blouse came home covered in writing too, in my day it was eggs and flour on the last day! Maybe I just went to a rough school! Lol x
ReplyDeleteI think the post will resonate with others who have children of the same age, we're all going through a similar thing with similar emotions, mingled in with the stress of exam time. I don't remember my last day at school at all, though I remember my last day at middle school, I loved it there and didn't want to leave.
DeleteAw how lovely, I remember my son leaving high school 2 years ago and he had to move on as the school had no sixth form on site. It was a big wrench, although he'll be leaving sixth form very soon and hopefully going off to uni - that'll be hard (for me!)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to Eleanor with her exams.
What a super idea of the teachers to write that letter.
At least Eleanor had the option to move to a different sixth form college or stay at school, it must have been difficult when there wasn't that choice for your son. We were in the same position last year with Daniel as you're in this year, it's very exciting, though daunting at the same time. Daniel's thoroughly enjoyed his first year at uni, I'm sure your son will too.
DeleteA touching post, Jo. All the best for Eleanor's exams and the next stage in her education in September in the sixth form.
ReplyDeleteThank you. She's at school taking her Textiles exam at the moment, I'm a bag of nerves each time she has an exam.
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