For pRIMARY PUPILS
CHRISTY MASON
Down High is a great school and although it has been a big change from primary school I really enjoy my school day. Instead of just sitting in one classroom with one teacher, we move around to different classrooms for each subject. My first impressions of Down High school were: ‘wow, big, cool, different and amazing.’
As far as I'm concerned, all the teachers are really great and they really make you feel welcome in first year.
In Down High it’s not just your teachers who are welcoming but also the older pupils. It is really easy to make friends. I went into the school having about ten friends there - now I have lots and not just from my year, but from all years.
The main sport for boys is rugby and you don't have to be good at it before you come; there are different levels for different players. The main sport for girls is hockey and the same applies here. It doesn't matter how good you are, it's all about enjoying yourself.
As well as Games there are lots of extra-curricular activities such as S.U, Young Farmers, Squash, Badminton, Debating Society and loads more.
Each person who attends Down High joins a house. There are five different houses, Down, Lecale, Rathkeltair, Strangford and Mourne. There will be a different coloured stripe on each tie, I am in Down and my stripe is purple while that of Lecale is blue. Each class has about 28 pupils but for certain practical subjects there will be split classes of about 20. To wrap it all up, Down High is a really different yet great school and if you're worried about changing from primary to grammar school, well don't be. There is nothing to be scared of. To me grammar school is really interesting and enjoyable (like school should be) and I'm really glad that I picked Down High School.
