Going to QECC

The first day is very exciting. You will be escorted around and if you get lost it doesn’t matter. There are a lot of people around, including teachers. It’s very easy to adapt to a new school like this!
Sophie

On my first day I was worried too, but I got used to it. Everybody is worried on their first day. Try to make new friends in Year 7 and 8. You will have a map so you try to work out where you are and if you get lost, ask a teacher or someone in Year 8.
Stacey

On the first day you might be a little bit scared but you’ll be fine and really enjoy it. Firstly you will get into your tutor groups, meet your tutor and maybe even your mentor. In the morning you will probably be with your tutor group and getting to know your classmates a bit better. You will also be shown places around the school like the canteen, hall, sports hall, room, reception, where lockers are etc.

In the afternoon you will go to your two normal lessons of the afternoon. At break time and lunch time you will probably get to know other people from different tutor groups and make friends with them. The tutor groups are split into the letters

C R E D I T O N S. You will be put into one of them.
Joe

To get used to the school and be familiar with the teachers and classes it will take a few weeks.
Jess

Don’t worry if you get lost because someone will be with you, like a friend and you will not be alone. You will probably get lost once or twice.
Katie

You will have a map to find your way around. I still go up the wrong staircase every now and then!
Sophie

Yes they are strict about uniform but they are usually nice.
Luke

The teachers are quite strict, as they have to keep the class in control. If you are not wearing the right uniform or have forgotten your books or stationery, they will probably help you out the first time. If this happens again you could get a yellow slip.
Jess

Most of the teachers are or can be nice and most of the teachers are strict about uniform.
Katie D

Most teachers are friendly and they are quite strict on uniform.
Joe P

The rules are fair and simple.
Rob and Charlie

You have to bring your own equipment like pens, pencils and most things you need.
If you forget your PE kit or your homework, you will get a yellow slip and a letter home to your parents. You need to wear school uniform, and not chew gum in lessons.
Gerry

You have to wear black shoes and take off non-uniform in class.
Stacey

These are some basic rules and expectations:

You will be expected to:

Arrive on time and arrive to lessons on time.
Remove non-uniform clothing.
Have all necessary equipment such as pens, pencils etc.
Have your Contact Book out.
Follow instructions.
Respect each other and each other’s property.
Be courteous and polite.
Be responsible for your learning and your behaviour.

Your Uniform:

plain white collared shirt, long or short sleeves or white polo shirt.
college sweatshirt in black with the QECC logo.
plain black trousers or skirt (not jeans, baggie or track suit bottoms).
plain black, grey or white socks or tights.
plain black footwear appropriate for college.
for Health and Safety reasons, only stud earrings should be worn.

Jade

You can get good yellow slips or bad yellow slips depending on how you behave. If you get three bad yellow slips you will get an after school detention. If you are really naughty you might get sent to time-out. If you are sent to time-out you are not allowed to go to the next Disco.
Jess

If you forget your homework (unless you have a note from your parents) you will get a yellow slip. You can also get good yellow slips and a letter will be sent home to tell your parents about your good behaviour or work.
Meg

If your parents can’t drive you home after a detention, you will have to do your detention at lunch time.

If you are disrespectful to the teachers then you won’t be able to go on fun trips. You go to places like The Eden Project in Year 8. In Year 7 and 8 you go on a trip to the Devon County Show for the day. But if you don’t behave in class then you miss out and don’t go. If you have done excellent work you get a signature in your Contact Book. For every 10 signatures you get a good letter home.
Nat

There is not that much homework but I would say that you get more here than at your old school.
Gerry.

You get homework every now and then. In the first three weeks you will get A LOT but then it slows down a bit.

The amount of homework each week depends on the teacher. The estimate is about two pieces a week. So don’t worry about homework. You will be able to cope.
Martin

There is not very much homework, but if you do not hand it in on time you get into trouble.
Matt

There are about 30 people in a Tutor Group and there are 9 tutor groups – they spell out C R E D I T O N S. (7C, 7R, 7E etc.)
Matt

If there are things troubling you and you don’t want to talk to the counsellor in the Penthouse (which you will be shown), you can always talk to your mentor which may be your registration teacher or another teacher.
Jess

There are brothers and sisters in the same tutors some times, or they might be mixed up in other tutor groups
Sophie

You might be put into a different tutor group from your brothers and sisters but you will soon make new friends.
Shawn

There are five lessons a day for an hour each and they go really quickly.
Shawn

Most sports teams train after school such as Girls and Boys Rugby and Football, Basketball and in the summer Athletics.

You do PE twice a week and there are school teams. At the moment the teams are all countries, like Cuba, Japan, Spain etc. Everyone is given a country to join in the first few weeks.
Joe

Yes, there is a sports day in the summer term. You do events like Long Jump Hurdles, Javelin and High Jump, Sprint, 800m etc.

On Sports day there are loads of different events but you work in teams (countries) instead of being on your own.

The whole of the Lower School (and Year 9) go by bus to Exeter Arena for Sports Day. After the events have taken place, the winning country is announced at the end before we go home.

The swimming pool is only used in the last half of the summer term. If you are a weak swimmer you can have lessons at the Upper School pool and get more confident in the water.

The water can be quite cold at Lower School.
Sophie

Yes, there are teachers on duty at break times. You can wander around the school and you can play football on both fields – the bottom pitch and the top pitch. You have to bring your own equipment. The canteen is open too so you can get hot food or other snacks and drinks.
Nat

If you are feeling ill, then you tell your teacher. If you are really bad you can ring your mum or dad and ask them to come and pick you up.

If you hurt yourself you can go to the nurse. Her room is near to the office. If the nurse isn’t in, the secretary in the office will call for a First Aider to come to see you in Reception.

There are many types of school trips. Lots of them are residential but there are also day trips. You can go to France for a week or Skiing in Austria or France.

There are trips in this country and abroad. You can do both. The French trip is brilliant!

In Year 8 you will go on a residential to Haytor on Dartmoor and do lots of fun activities.

The French blocks are not falling apart.
Sophie

You take your own equipment to lessons. (See under School Rules for details of what you will need).
Sophie

Each year has one assembly a week. Sometimes the principal does an assembly for the whole school or the assembly might be taken by the Year Heads. This is when you hear announcements about what is going on in school.
George

You have different options to choose from like Fish and Chips or Lasagne or Curry. You can also get sandwiches and snacks.
Charlie and Rob

The school dinners are lovely. There is a big variety of different types of food. There are healthy options as well
Joe

The school dinners are very nice because there is a lot of choice. The food is hot and not left to get cold.
Danny-Lee

You have a choice of hot food or cold food. There is a lot of choice and there will be something you like on the menu. If you don’t want school dinners then you can have a packed lunch.
Nat

In year 7 you will learn to speak French. When you move to Upper School you will be able to learn other languages like German.
Neoma

There are plenty of lockers for us to use but you have to provide your own padlock
KT

You can have your own locker if you want (you don’t have to) and yes, you do have to bring your own padlock.
Sophie

Yes you do have to carry everything around in you bag (unless you have a locker). You will get used to it and you don’t have too many books to make your bag heavy.
Laura

In school you have to carry all your stuff around. You might think it would be tiring but its fine just as long as you don’t have too much in your bag.
Meg

You get used to carrying your bag, but keep the stuff in the bag to a minimum plus only take the books you need for that day, else you can get tired. You can leave your bag in the hall at lunchtime, or you can find somewhere else to leave it such as outside the library.
Joe

Usually if you forget your homework (unless you have a note from your parents) you will get a yellow slip. When you get three bad yellow slips you get an after school detention. You can also get a good yellow slip which is a letter home for all your good behaviour or work.
Danny-Lee

If you forget your PE kit or your homework you will get a yellow slip.
Gerry

At first the teachers will just tell you off, but if you continue to forget you will get a yellow slip.
Charlie and Rob

The Library is open after school and you can use the books or computers to do your homework
Tom

Drama lessons are really good and you will enjoy them. You will love it! You will be asked if you want to do the Christmas play but you don’t have to.
Vanessa

The Drama lessons are cool. Sometimes there is a Christmas play but usually there is a talent competition.
Jack

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