What do you recall from your first day at school?

I had my 1st day at nursery when I was 5 in 1970 and because I didn't know the ''routine'' and didn't know anyone I was a bit slow, -didn't know where to sit etc. -and the class teacher shouted at me in front of everyone ''YOU SIT HERE, STOP BEING STUPID''. I was in tears.

Over the years I absolutely hated school, the sexism ... being told I shouldn't be anything other than a subservient housewife/mother, and if I ''insisted'' on working then it should be with kids, secretarial etc. A female bus driver or airline pilot? Gosh, no!

When we were marched off to the library aged 14 I tried to borrow a book about cave people but the hideous old bag on the desk told teacher who shouted at me that it's ''not within the school guidelines for girls''.

I never liked kids and chose never to have any when I was 6 and didn't marry until I was 42, I'm 59 now. Constantly shouted at and condescended and bullied by teachers and other pupils.

The girls were forced to do things like cooking, sewing etc. whether we wanted to or not.

In 1981 aged 16 I was supposed to leave in September with everyone else but my birthday was on 29 April which was a Thursday so I went in the final day before turning 16 and never went back as soon as my 16th birthday came! I never told anyone I was leaving then, didn't bother collecting anything from my locker, just totally vanished!

Spuddy where on earth did you live? You are only a year or two older than my children and my daughter never met behaviour like that.

I was at school in the 1940s/50 and never met behaviour like that at school or at home.

Spuddy - what a horrible experience for you. You are a few years older than my daughter, but loved her school and had nothing but good experiences.
I hope this hasn’t affected your life in the long term. You mention getting married, but didn’t mention children. Whatever your situation, I hope you are happy now.

My sisters were already in school. They loved it, hated leaving me home alone having fun with mum. I loved the very long school drive in my father's lovely car, just me and my sisters.

School? I found it interesting, fun, somewhat boring, couldn't wait to get home to mum and our baby brother (born when I was 10).

I went to a small private prep school & can remember lining up in the playground & being desperate for the loo. I didn’t know what to do, where to go or who to ask so the inevitable happened. I was kitted out in a pair of the headmistresses son’s pants. He was at least 12 and they were fixed with a very large safety pin. Oh the shame! I hated ‘sums’ merely due to a horrible teacher, Mrs Thompson. Loved art and games and won loads of ribbons for 3legged race, the egg & spoon and high jump. I still have my 2 best friends from day 1 at school 70 years ago. Sadly one has MS, the other cancer & Ive just had heart surgery so we’re all just about hanging on sadly . I remember my Mum asking , when I said I hated school, what I did like about school . I replied ‘weekends, half term, holidays, lunchtime, drawing and games’. She never let me forget it🤣

Spuddy that sounds terrible, I’m not surprised it put you off school. I don’t know where you were, but you are about the same age as one of my sisters and they never met treatment like that.

I remember my first day. I started out from home with my mother and grandmother. I was eager to start school and soon outran them. I reached the school well ahead and joined the queue to enrol. By the time I got to the desk where teachers were completing the forms, they still hadn't caught up.

I told the staff my name, address and date of birth so they could complete the enrolment form. Eventually my Mum and Grandma arrived and I presume they were able to answer any other questions and explain one or two things.

As I was born with a cleft lip and the roof of my mouth (which were repaired over the next few years) I couldn't drink milk with a straw. So the Headmistress made me a cup of cocoa with my milk and I drank it in her office.
That was so kind.

I could read, write and knew numbers...bit of a smarty pants, really.

I told the staff my name, address and date of birth so they could complete the enrolment form.

You’ve just reminded me, Blinko. I must have given details for my own enrolment form too at the last primary school I went to. I always wanted a middle name so decided to treat myself to two. When we were moving on to secondary schools the teacher checked all the register details, and I had to declare in front of the class that I wasn’t Margaret Susan Christine after all, and had no idea where they’d got that information from. 😇

Maggiemaybe that's hilarious! I don't have a middle name either. wish I'd thought to invent a couple!

Blinko what age did you start school!

I was 4 and a bit and my mother took care of information

I started school a few years after my brother. My name could be shortened to Andi and this was what my brother called me.
My mum cut my hair really short just before I started school, and with my brother calling me Andi in the playground all the other children said I must be a boy as I also looked like one. I went home in tears and said I never wanted to go back, my Mum had to go to the school to say I had to be called by my middle name.
As I got older I was always disappointed my name didn’t stay as Andi as my middle name is a bit.boring.
I also remember walking home alone at lunchtime as I didn’t stay for school dinners for many years.
Our classrooms were temporary buildings built after the war and were nearly 20 years old, freezing in the winter and boiling in the summer. We found out years afterwards they were made of asbestos as were many buildings and schools in the 50s 60s and 70s.

Absolutely nothing. Must be blanking it out. 😬

Yes - I can remember running into the school playground on my first day and jumping/leaping around because I had heard this is what you should do in the playground. This would have been 1959 in London.

I remember the first day, I cried until both my handkies were wet. We were told to get into a crocodile, I was terrified! We had to hold hands with another girl and walk in a long line to the field but luckily there was no crocodile.

Oh my God, how absolutely terrible for you, shocking.

Absolute terror. Did not want to go and by all accounts I hung on to my mother's skirts screaming. The school was opposite our house and I used to come home at playtime or lunch time and have to be taken back. Sometimes I'd go for a walk around the corner to my nana's house because that delayed the being taken back to school.

I was 4yrs 9 months when I started school and have no memory of my first day at all.
However, I vividly remember 1 month later when I had appendicitis, the pain was excruciating and I had to wait outside the headteacher’s office for her to take me home. Even though it was a cold tiled corridor, I lay down and curled into a ball.
After that most of my primary school memories involve skipping, races and other games in the playground 😄

I went to school just after Easter, two weeks before my 4th birthday.
I remember being told to sit at a desk - I was so bored I thought they were all a bit dim. That afternoon I was taken by the teacher's 7 year old daughter into her class - bliss. I never looked back. I didn't realise that it was unusual to be able to read and write quite well at that age I thought it was normal. Later on I met others who were the same.

My grandmother took me on my first day as I was living with her at the time. No preparation or even told me where it was. We had to sit on the floor for part of the day. It was very dirty and had a bit of poo on the floor next to me. I was horrified as my grandmother was very houseproud with no dust anywhere.

I'm shocked about how little I can recall. The school didnt start until 5 years old so no naps or Wendy houses. Sitting in desks in twos. I was happy there mostly. Don't recall being upset on the first day.

Like others I'd been taught to read and copy letters and basic numbers, so I recall being left to read when others were learning.

Reading was taught/advanced with the "Janet and John" books. Reading them now is quite shocking - Janet was mainly on the sidelines watching John doing things!

Yes, learning times tables by rote and the navy knickers, but there wasn't a school uniform.

At home I'd worn mostly trousers and climbed trees and such like, I recall being cross I had to wear a more restricted skirt, girls definitely weren't allowed trousers.

Recall girls doing handstands in the playground, knickers all on display, and didnt want to join in. ON wet days we read comics indoors at playtime and I remember being "poorly" to be allowed to stay in and read comics.

Junior School was tough for many as it was streamed - A to D classes. (big school!)

D classes were looked down on.

Loved my Technical High secondary school, progressive, accepting.

The things I remember about my first day at infant school was being taken there by the girl next door who was the year above, and that one of the boys cried for most of the day! I thought 'What a baby' and was consequently predjudiced against anyone with the same name.
Later on I remember always having to fasten the shoes of a boy in my class who couldn't tie his laces, and being told off for opening my eyes during prayers in assembly and feeling that was unfair as having to stand up with my eyes closed made me feel dizzy.
My final memory is of coming equal top of the class in my last year. Pupils were sat in seats in order of ther test scores and the girl I came equal with already sat in the top spot so I was allocated the 2nd place! I thought that was unfair too as she lost her mark for spelling whereas my lost mark was for neatness! Some little injustices you never forget!

I'd been bought a school type desk, with a lift up lid, a few months before I started school. I loved books, reading and colouring so was extremely fond of my desk.

My overriding memory of that first day was sitting in the school hall with my mum and all the other children, waiting for my name to be called out.

I was quietly worrying that I hadn't brought my desk with me, because of course you need a desk for school. I can remember the tight throat and barely held back tears at I waited to be told off for not bringing a desk.

Imagine my relief when I was shown into a classroom full of desks! I had a lovely teacher called Miss Taught, which even at that tender age I thought highly appropriate.

I loved school, I'm still at my best when I'm learning, even approaching 60.

I cried and cried, all day, feeling totally bereft.

I was put with a girl called Sarah, who was really pretty, and had a ponytail that swished from side to side when she walked.

I was taken out from the dining room, as my crying so much meant I couldn't eat, and was off-putting for others.
So my lunchtimes were spent walking around with a dinner lady, holding her hand.

My teacher was called Miss Duffy, and she wore a yellow mini skirt.
She had black hair tied with a yellow chiffon scarf, and I was put to sit next to her, during lessons, as my crying was disturbing everyone.

I remember vividly it was 1961 and my mum took me by the hand to my classroom we found my desk it had my name on a little card, and I sat down looked all around thinking is this it! I knew a few of the other little ones , I remember one boy clinging to his mum hiding behind her skirt crying his eyes out poor Robert Howard lol my friend who lived in my road sat next to me we were quite in awe, I enjoyed my first day but was tired. Came home at lunchtime. My mum picked me up I remember saying to her I loved the orange squash that was in a milk bottle and could we buy some. I couldn’t wait to go back to school loved the infant years, was fascinated by the loud school bell

Age 7 - first day - brought to the front of class and had my hand smacked 20 odd times while being told I was a “naughty naughty naughty girl” She was called Mrs Richardson, a teacher at Ilkley All Saints School. My mother had to drag me screaming to school for weeks after that assault The reason? I was talking to another girl.
I can picture the scene in my mind to this day!