Looking Back.

[nicebloke1]

The day you left school, did you look back for a second and think, I wish I wasn't leaving or, thank god for that, happy days ahead?

[rockyracoon]

I was delighted. I went to Sixth Form for a few months, but all my friends had jobs and were going out enjoying themselve, so I thought I'd leave. Got a decent job and didn't look back.

[retrocop]

Couldn't get out quick enough and away from the monsters who claimed to be teachers. The worst years of my life. God rot them. The Swine that ruled his dictatorship was a man called Ansell Savage. Savage by name and by God a Savage by nature.

[MargoTester]

I couldn't wait to walk out for the last time.....apart from leaving my friends and most of those I keep in touch with. I met my best friend on the first day, 63 years ago and saw her last week for a catchup 

[pastafreak]

Oh, quite excited. And a bit scared. I was starting art and design school in the autumn which meant commuting to NYC everyday. An adventure! 

[JinnyJoan]

I adored school, loved the dinners - first time I had coconut sponge and jam and custard and introduced to many fine cuisine.

Loved everything about school except we did have hours of homework so was sad to leave.

 

[davebro3]

I wanted to leave after O-levels & get a job (I wish I had) but I was persuaded by teachers to stay on. My academic career was already on the downturn & I did badly with A-levels & dropped out of uni after 1 year. 

Friends (some) who did badly at school ended up with better careers.

[andres]

I enjoyed school but there was so much to look forward to in the 50s .Not a time to look back.  

[davebro3]

don't remember if I felt anything at all about leaving

[retrocop]

 

I'm 74 years in November and I have bad dreams about my last head master still. His name was Ansell Savage. Savage by name and Savage by nature.
I recall the annual prize giving day where the Borough of Barnet Mayor was to officiate in the prize giving. We were all seated in the adjoining Community hall awaiting his grand arrival. Someone let off a stink bomb .The hall was evacuated and the mayor was directed to the headmasters office for tea and bickies whilst the windows and doors were left open in the hall
to 'depong' the venue.
For some reason my name was forwarded as the culprit. Every day for about a month, after morning assembly, I was oiked out the ranks as we filed past his office for an hours grilling. Every day I denied any knowledge. One day there was a knocking at the head's study door and a rather agitated science master came in holding a sheepish and frightened lad by his ear. The boy was David Evans, the older brother of Timothy Evans who both attended the school and were sons of 'Taff' Evans the one time Geography teacher and then R.I. teacher (Lay Baptist Preacher). Mr Kingston, the science master, stated that the boy had dropped a stink bomb in the Lab and he clearly saw it done. Taff Evans was summoned to Savages study where the story unfolded. David burst into tears and admitted the dastardly deed to his father and headmaster. Taff Evans then blamed it on my devilish influence. It was still all my fault and I was dismissed without an apology. I reckon I missed a day's schooling over the month with those daily hourly inquisitions I hated them all at that school.

C&P from an AB post in April 2023

[Moorea7]

I liked school and stayed on as long as was possible - the schooling I received was good and sports facilities excellent.

[SparklyKid]

I went to Oldham  hulme Grammar School for boys. Sadistic headmaster harry bamford shaw. On my 1st day he caught me running down the coridoor and bent me over a chair and caned my backside 6 times.   There also were  2 homosexual  teachers.  they would face criminal charges now.

[JinnyJoan]

I was eating a Mars bar on the corridor (we had to go to different rooms for different classes)  my prefect of my class reported me to the teacher and yippee the teacher took her duties off her and let me prefect for the day.  Oh boy what a look from prefect.

[rowanwitch]

All I discovered was bullies are not only in the playground,   and responsibility isn't only related to the workplace.  I thought having a job and earning  my own money would change things but I was just expected to subsidise the family.  

[Auntypoll]

I hated school. I felt it taught me nothing of use in life and was right. I don't think in my long career I've needed anything I learnt at school. I was mercilessly bullied for being 'posh', in my school that meant having two parents who lived together and had jobs. I was glad to leave, fell into a very bad marriage, got out ,and went on to do  further education at 30 where I got my degree and started my career. The school dinners were nice though as my mother was a terrible cook.😊

[Old_Geezer]

I shrugged, took a deep breath, and got on with life.

[Prudie]

Nothing really, didn't really register as an event because I was on the expected 'education train' is the way I thought about it. O levels then A levels then Uni so last day at school was just like leaving a station on a journey. I was looking forward to going to Uni (of Essex)  3 months later as my boyfriend was there already :-)

[pastafreak]

In the states, it's stay on until the bitter end. No leaving at 15-16! So much for fun 😆

[jourdain2]

I was sad to leave.  I enjoyed school once I had overcome the tears ar Breaktime during my 1st week - I wasn't bullied, I just felt lost.  I only had my 10th birthday two weeks before  starting at Grammar School; so it was a bit overwhelming.

Retrocop - we're the same age.   :)  

[-SharonA-]

I was Glad To leave. Made even better by my first job offer of working for Co Op building  society.

[fiveleaves]

I dont really remember an actual last day. We had a period of study leave. I suppose my last day was the date of my last exam. I cant remember what it was. Neither happy or upset at leaving school.My first long summer of my life after school age was nice