The magazine of the art-form of the photo-essay
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Stephen Fry. British actor, writer and film & documentary maker
Oct 2015 back issue
by Rachel Molina
After years within the protective environment of primary school, having grown up with other children they have often
known since nursery, children face the transition to secondary school. It is the time when they cease, almost
overnight, to be children, and start the changes leading to adolescence and ultimately adulthood. Increasingly they
must make their own decisions, find their own way, and contemplate the consequences of their actions. They must
make new friends, and learn new things, not just academically, but about themselves - about their own minds and
bodies. I photographed and spoke with some children coming to the end of year 6 to discover more about how they
felt during this time. The children attended schools across South East London.
A portrait from this project will hang in the National Portrait Gallery from November
as part of the Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2015
My name is Alana.
I am going to secondary school with two of my friends. My sisters are also there and I’ve heard stories about the
teachers. I won’t be seeing my friends very much as I’m probably not going to be in the same form as them.
Everybody has flaws, even the ‘cool’ people aren’t perfect. There are a few children in my class that I thought ‘wow’
I could never be friends with them as I’m not one of those cool girls, and then I saw their flaws. I saw what I was
better at and what I was worse at and then I became friends with most of them. For a long time I wanted to be a police
dog handler but I’m now hoping to be a zoo veterinarian which is paid quite a lot. I want to keep up with my football
and I will never give up horse riding – never. The conversations will change so I can’t always think about the old times.
My name is Simone.
I am going to my new secondary school on my own. I’m a bit scared because they have been with me all my life it
feels but in a way it’s like a nice fresh start and so that will feel good. All my friends are going to schools together and
I can often feel left out. I’ve learnt how to deal with bullying because I’ve experienced it before. I think it has made me
stronger and more independent. I can now stand up for myself. My greatest experience of primary school have been
the teachers. They have all been there for me and have been very nice. Literacy is the thing I’m dreading most at
secondary school because I don’t really like that subject very much. When I am older I want to be a teacher and
sometimes I want to be a dancer, singer or actress.
My name is Molly.
I am going to secondary school by myself. I guess it feels quite nerve wracking (because) you are by yourself and you
have to be quite independent. In year 4 I was bullied, just a tiny bit, but I think if that happened in year 7 I would know
how to deal with it. I would definitely deal with it differently. I’m looking forward to the school trips because they are a
bit better than the ones at my primary school. I think the thing I will find the hardest is making friends and finding my
way around the building because it’s quite a bit building. On my first morning I think I will be excited. Excited but then
nervous at the same time because it will be a new start and you don’t know what to expect. When I’m older I want to
be a primary school teacher.
My name is Miah H
You have to get to know new people instead of just staying with your friends. I’m worried that new people might not like
me as a person. I will have to talk to some of them in my class and get to know them, although some of them might
treat me differently. I would like to be a singer and dancer when I’m older. I would also like to learn a new language.
I’m a bit nervous and I think I will be a bit confused because on my first day. My Mum will have to leave me there and I
will have to get to know the school and all the teachers. We have to read a book in a week and then we have to have
to do quiz on that book. I don’t read that fast so that might be a bit of a challenge
My name is Ahmad.
I’m going to my new school with only three friends. It took me ages (at Primary school) to find five friends but now I
just want to stay with them. I don’t want to stick to them all the time but I just want to be with them whenever they
need me. One thing I have learnt is to keep your friends close. I have learnt to treat others how you want to be treated.
The teachers understand how we feel because they have been through everything and remember it. There are libraries
there (at secondary school), there are whole new things. When I am older I want to be a doctor because if my Mum is
ill or something I would like to cure her. I could teach my children all kinds of things and help others
My name is Adam.
The hardest thing will be not to forget things really. I’m worried about leaving pencils and pens behind. You get given
a diary so I should remember. Thinking about my first day at school I will probably be a bit nervous but the teachers
will be nice to use because it’s our first day, so if you forget something it’s not like they are going to give you detention.
It’s a massive difference from being top of primary school to then going right down to the bottom again. It’s quite odd.
When I am older I want to go to university and I’d quite like to study engineering. I’d like to be a pilot.
My name is Ben.
I feel kind of upset that none of my friends are going to my secondary school as I don’t think I’m very good at making
friends. I’m shy so that makes me a bit worried. I’m quite calm about the next school. I’m looking forward to PE as I
quite like sports. I think I will find literacy the hardest. Literacy homework will be harder than having to make friends
but I will probably wait for the friends to come to me as I just can’t do it. I’m too nervous. I’d probably like to be a builder
when I’m older
My name is Shay.
I don’t really have a best friend at the school I am at now. My friends can be very annoying sometimes. They text me
and ask me to meet with them to play and then they don’t turn up. I have learnt to ignore them now. I’m most looking
forward to getting to learn more subjects instead of just maths, literacy, science, ICT and PE. They are the only
subjects we do at school now. I’m looking forward to textiles and design. I like to design stuff. Sometimes I just design
stuff in my head. My new school is on three levels and I’m worried that I might not find my way to the right floor. You
only have four minutes to get to each class so you might be on the bottom level and you next class could be right at the
top. When I’m older I would like to do textiles design and music. I have my own drum kit with cymbals and it has a small
electric piano on it. I like to play around creating different music.
My name is Jessica.
I’m going to secondary school without my friends so I’m going to be alone at first. I know that some people going there
will obviously be in groups with their friends so it often feels like I won’t have anyone (there). People aren’t really
talking about their secondary schools at the moment. I think we are just trying to get through stuff and finish year 6.
Friendship wise, I’ve learnt that with my friends some things can really offend them and somethings don’t. Knowing
these things, I’ve learnt to be diplomatic. The thing I’m going to find the hardest is making new friends. I’m often shy
when it comes to meeting new people, rather than being confident. That is something I’m quite afraid about.
My name is Mabel.
I’m going to my new secondary school by myself. Quite a few of my friends are all going to different schools by
themselves. I guess I’m a little worried about making friends. I can be confident when I want to be but I will probably
be a bit shy because that’s just me. I made friends with a couple of people when I went to my induction day, so I will try
and spot them. When I was younger I used to be a perfectionist and I would get so upset and in such a state about
things. I used to try not to do things because I was scared that I was not going to do it well. I’ve learnt that you never
just have once chance to do it. I wish I could start secondary school now. We have had lots of conversations about how
we are feeling but I think the whole message is not to worry.
My name is Tula.
I’m not going to secondary school with any of my closest friends which I’m not too bothered about. I’m looking forward
to making new friends as well as keeping the old ones. I don’t think I will find it hard to talk to people at my new school,
as I’m quite happy to chat to people I don’t know. I’m looking forward to subjects like art as I like to set myself mini
projects to do in my room. I choose myself a topic make stuff about it. My recent one has been about wildlife, nature
and animals. Everything will feel different on my first day of school compared to what I’m used to but I will excited by
things changing. My year 6 teacher has been especially inspiring to me and I will really miss him.
My name is Harry.
Sometimes it’s quite hard to make friends but it also depends on who you are trying to make friends with. My sister is
already at the secondary school that I’m going to, so that makes me feel better. She will probably look out for me. I
think I’ve learnt that if I fall out with my friends and that if I had been rude to them I should just apologies. If they had
been rude to me then I would try to be their friend again. I think the hardest thing about secondary school will be the
big kid because you are going to be the youngest again, not the oldest. I like video games and football. When I’m older
I’d probably like to be a strategy game designer.
