Starting at a new school
By Anna Gray, age 11
I’ve just finished my first week at a new school and I’d like to tell you about it. Like other children in 
my country, I went to primary school until I was eleven and then I had to go to a different school for 
older children. I loved my primary school but I was excited to move to a new school.
It was very strange on our first day. There were some kids from my primary school there, but most 
of the children in my year group were from different schools. But I soon started talking to the girl 
who was sitting beside me in maths. She lives near me so we walked home together. We're best 
friends now.
When I saw our timetable there were lots of subjects, some were quite new to me! Lessons are 
harder now. They're longer and the subjects are more difficult, but the teachers help us a lot.
At primary school we had all our lessons in one classroom. Now each subject is taught in a different 
room. It was difficult to find the classrooms at first because the school is so big. But the teachers 
gave us each a map of the school, so it's getting easier now.
The worst thing is that I have lots more homework to do now. Some of it is fun but I need to get 
better at remembering when I have to give different pieces of work to the teachers

14 How did Anna feel about moving to a new school?
A worried about being with lots of older children
B happy about the idea of doing something different
C pleased because she was bored at her primary school
15 Who has become Anna’s best friend at her new school?
A someone from her primary school
B someone she knew from her home area
C someone she met in her new class
16 What does Anna say about the timetable at her new school?
A It includes subjects she didn't do at primary school.
B She has shorter lessons than she had at her old school.
C It is quite difficult to understand.
17 Why couldn't Anna find her classrooms?
A She couldn't read a map.
B There was little time between lessons.
C The school building was very large.
18 What does Anna say about the homework she has now?
A She gets more help from some teachers than others.
B She thinks it is the hardest part of school life.
C She remembers everything she's told to do