School life, between the linesBy Eleven Plus Diary
School stories, admissions adventures, and the things parents talk about on the way home.
School portraits · Surrey, England
A Cranleigh old boy remembers an English teacher who said yes twice. I tried the same approach with my son’s school, by email, at length, at night.
School portraits · Dundee, Scotland
When a former pupil set off to cycle round the world, the High School of Dundee did what schools do. It made it a project, and then it sent a bear.
School portraits · Cambridge
At The Leys in the 1960s a clerical error freed one boy from compulsory games for a year, and he spent it in the school print room. When our son’s name went missing, I emailed the school at 7.02am.
School portraits · Oxford
In 2012, Oxford High parents argued online about whether the school should explain how their daughters did in the entrance exam. In 2025, two of its Year 7s gave their own report.
School portraits · Carrickfergus, County Antrim
A P7 pupil in Carrickfergus wrote to the Ulster Chess Union about a shortage of boards. I have been writing to the council about a pothole since 2021.
School portraits · London
Two sixth-formers parked an antique telescope at the top of City of London School’s main stairs until it found a better home. Our hall has a rowing machine in the same position.
School portraits · Colwall
A Year 8 leaver at The Downs Malvern was asked what he would miss most. The dining room had done everything right.
School portraits · London
At King Alfred School, Year 8 spend a week cooking on open fires with no phones. I decided our kitchen could manage the same, minus the huts.
School portraits · Wem, Shropshire
Greg Davies’s school comedy band gave a cassette to a teacher at Thomas Adams School in Wem and got back a review, both sides. Our son’s band has a SoundCloud, and I have a pen.
School portraits · Manchester, England
An English teacher at Manchester High School for Girls had firm views on flowery 11-plus compositions. I had just laminated a list of wow words.
School portraits · Rochester, Kent
A mother in Lagos once chose her daughter’s A levels and wrote about it afterwards. I read her account with the GCSE options form on our fridge and a pen in my hand.
School portraits · Stockport, England
At Stockport Grammar in the 1950s a boy who could not stay upright on roller skates was given a flute instead, and found a Latin master running the recorder group. Our youngest is on his third scooter.
