Text 1: Lost before the first bell, by Noah Malik

An original present-day personal blog.

On my first morning at Brookfield High, I reached the entrance early but still arrived late for registration. The room code on my timetable was B14, and I walked confidently into C corridor before realising that every door began with the wrong letter. By the time I found my form room, everyone else was seated. Twenty-eight faces turned towards me as I entered.

Mrs Rees, my form tutor, told me not to worry. She highlighted the quickest routes between my classrooms on my timetable and explained that new pupils were not expected to know the building immediately.

The busiest moment was lunch. I stood at the dining-hall door, wondering where to sit, until Arun from my form waved me over. He introduced me to the others at his table and then showed me the shortcut to the science rooms. He also invited me to football practice after school. By the final bell, the building seemed smaller and I no longer felt as though everyone was watching me.

Text 2: My new schoolroom, by Eliza Ward

An original letter written to resemble a late nineteenth-century account. It is a period simulation rather than a historical source.

In this letter, Eliza describes her first day at a school after her family moved to a different town.

My dear Cousin Jane,

I was quite miserable when Mother left me at the school gate. Inside, I did not know which peg was mine or where I ought to sit, so I remained beside the wall until the other pupils had taken their places. When I finally hurried to an empty bench, I knocked three pencils onto the floor. Several children looked round, and my face grew hot.

Miss Bell did not scold me. She asked Martha, an older pupil, to show me where everything was kept. Martha shared her reading book with me and quietly reminded me when it was time to change lessons. At midday she took me into the yard and introduced me to two girls who were playing with a hoop.

In the afternoon, Miss Bell praised my handwriting and said she hoped I would soon feel at home. Martha waited for me when lessons ended, and we walked as far as the baker’s shop together. I am not so afraid of returning tomorrow.

Your affectionate cousin,

Eliza

Explain briefly the difficulties Noah and Eliza experienced at their new schools and how other people helped them settle in.

In your answer:

• use information from both texts;
• make clear which text you are referring to.