British Schools

 Entrance to Portslade Community College

 Another view of Portslade Community College

A very poorly taken picture of my visitors pass to Portslade!

Hi everyone,
So today, we went to visit a British School. We went to one on Monday, but that was more of observation than anything. Monday we were at a school in Hailsham the school was called Grovelands Primary School. Instead of using the term grade to determine which level the children are in, they call them year. Comparing the grade to the year is very similar, usually if a student is in year 7 they would be considered in grade 6 in the USA. So the Primary school we went to on Monday was Year 1 to Year 6, and the school we went to today was Year 7 to Year 11. After Year 11 the children will be 16 and they will then go to 2 gap years if they choose to continue on to university, but many students choose to only attend through Year 11. Today we were at Portslade Community  College. Community College is their version of middle/high school. Not what we consider to be college. The children were doing a project on America and had to come up with questions to ask us, and they had to make a poster with the information they learned. The questions we got asked were great. I was asked if I lived in a teepee, and if all I eat is KFC or McDonalds. I was also asked why I talk so weird and if I knew any famous people. Another question was if I like Justin Beiber or not, as well as why we drive on the wrong side of the road. I was also asked if I have a gun, and if I shoot people, and they were wondering if everyone in America is fat, and what kind of food do I eat? The questions continued, one girl had a book open about the Native American Indians, she pointed to a picture of shoes that would have been worn in the 1500's and asked me if those were the kind of shoes I wore. The students also thought that everywhere in America is very similar to Disneyworld, because that is one of the few places they have actually heard of. In this school community not many students ever leave the area, some rarely even travel to Brighton, a mere 20 minute drive. So they really did not have a general idea of what life was like in America. It was a really interesting day and I met a lot of great kids, and was able to have biscuts (mostly really delicious cookies) and tea with the other teachers in the staff lounge, during their "tea" break that they have everyday! A teacher asked me if I wanted tea or coffee and I asked for tea, she wanted to know if I wanted milk in my tea, I told her I had never heard of milk in your tea, so she told me I HAD to try it and that it was the most delicious thing ever. So I tried it, didn't taste much different to me! haha We got a tour of the school from some students, and were able to meet students in different Years. I mostly ended up with what they called the bottom level. The students who need some extra help in different areas, for whatever reason may be. The day was filled with many many questions from students and the staff members as well, many who had not been to America themselves. Overall the whole day was very exciting and a really "lovely" experience that I am so glad I was able to do. I got a real kick out of the questions they were asking, and I'm glad I got to set them straight that American's aren't all fat people who eat KFC everyday and shoot people with their guns!!
Kelly