Year 7 Chloe is writing a diary for the College website about what it's like to be a student at the College. This is her first entry:

My first experience at SDCC (Stoke Damerel Community College!)

My first term at SDCC has been amazing; however I was anxious about making new friends and finding my way around. But I was very lucky because I had my brother to keep me company just until I was ready to go off on my own. On the other hand, finding your way around was very easy because when you start your first day here at SDCC they will provide you a buddy.
That person is your guide for the day, just to show you around and get you settled in properly, but also to keep you company.
A word of advice, please do ask a teacher for the way around if you get lost at all.

Vicky learning to log on with her new password

What's my favourite subject?
Well, my favourite subject is dance and I never got to do dance in primary school, so now is my chance to finally learn how to dance. But it's also because of how nice these teachers are all day round and the fact that they will always find a way to support you - whether you need support or not. These teachers have got to be the best teachers you would have ever met.

What about the food?
The food here at secondary is very different because here at SDCC we have to have these things we call fingerprints.
On your first day they will take you out of tutorial and take your fingerprint, then that fingerprint can be used to either purchase your lunch or, if you go to the library, then you can use your fingerprint to take a book out and then return it on the due back date.
If you are free school meals then the school would provide you with a boost of £2.20 towards your account and that will get you a hot meal, a drink and sometimes even a desert. Another difference is that at secondary you get more variety of meals.

Abbie preparing a presentation

Work between primary and secondary?
The difference is only the fact that you get more work at secondary than primary but, hey, that's the circle of life.
What would you like to do next year?
What I would like to do is to improve in my work and grab a higher grade. I'd also like to improve in my librarian work.

What is the uniform like?
The uniform is a much higher product than other schools and much smarter. Secondary schools just try to make you look more efficient, however not everybody hates it.
I mean, even though I'm a girl, that doesn't mean that I hate tucking my shirt in, I find it more comfortable with my shirt tucked in than out, but some students don’t think it's comfortable.

Students re-enacting battle of Stamford Bridge

Why I want to write this diary?
The main reason I want to write this diary is because if Year 6 students are looking at this diary it can give them an idea of what the future in secondary is going to be like.
SDCC is a very good place and everything is great most of the time with the all the opportunities that you get.

Written by Chloe!

Students loving school