So, after the debate the long awaited (for some people) end of year social was tonight. I just got back and I’m writing about it all now before I forget, so a summary: I am glad I went and I do not think that it was unpleasant, but I would say that it was rather dull for the majority of the time. This is because the activities for the main part were just talking to people and dancing: the former is great for a while but you do run out of things to talk about, and I’m hardly going to be involved in the latter. I opted to leave roughly an hour early ready to revise tomorrow - study leave it not a holiday, and of course I’m right at the forefront of revision

I had a large number of photographs of me taken, with others etc. as it is a big surprise to see me in anything but school uniform. I hope to get a copy of a good few of them off the ‘net as it will be something to remember, in general. There was a leaver’s assembly earlier in the day and at that lots of awards etc. were given out and presentations were made about each form and the members of. I was called the philosophical friend of 11E, and I am told the cheer (and unfortunate chanting) were louder than everyone else, except perhaps Steven Wilde the notourious trouble maker. This assembly definately got better as it went on - at first the ominous pile of certificates seemed a bit meaningless but the presentations made by pupils were well done. However, at the end of the day, I’m not leaving, which kind of takes something out of it. I do respect though the fact that for many people it is a lot more important as either them or their close friends are moving on.

One thing that I am very unhappy with was the amount of pre-event drinking (and perhaps during) that had clearly been going on. Despite the assurance that alcohol was being watched carefully by the teachers, it could be smelt on people and clearly due to their behaviour they were somewhat intoxicated, to varying degrees (apparently the limousines they had come in had supplied them). This was a shame but I am told that smoking was an issue in the past, but very strict rules this time meant that this was kept to a minimum and then the people went outside. I guess at 16 they are actually allowed to do it, to a certain extent. Interestingly, the teachers have quite a time of it when dealing with these two drugs: apparently they had gone round ferreting out alcohol that was stored in bushes etc. around the site. Unfortunately for them, it is of course the unintelligent ones that do it and so finding it was not too hard, I am told.

There was at one point a presentation of certificates that were voted on by the whole year, as in all wrote down their nomination. I didn’t so much want any of them but I did not get the one most people there (it seemed) and myself expected: most likely to be prime minister. I did however receive most dedicated to the school, and this came as a surprise. I am extremely annoyed that I didn’t ask to make a speech and then denounce the school for such an award - it didn’t occur to me at the time. Now, this may sound rather unfair and strange, but let me explain. Essentially, the award made sense. I do put forward the impression that I work for the school with the library, debating society and of course general hard work. That’s granted. The issue comes with the fact that I am not dedicated to the school as I am not happy with the education I received, but was simply trying to improve things while the staff did not (or so it seemed).

The event on the whole was pretty well organised and they had got a photographer and food etc. organised. I am told it went well compared with others in years past, but I can’t really comment since I’ve only been to one. However, I was annoyed with the overpriced drinks (or so I was told - I just had tap water) which was rather capitalist and many fell for it. Niche marketing like that is so, so, evil, and is another reason why socialism benefits everyone. The food that was provided wasn’t bad and they organised it pretty well to ensure it wasn’t a mad rush, so I wasn’t hungry. At one point I was going to go in and attack the bar staff for their capitalist ways but decided not to at the last minute when I realised they were actually quite nice and probably didn’t deserve it.

Afterwards as I left the main room to get my coat from the cloakroom, I was asked what I thought about the five years by a deputy head. I hope that I didn’t offend him too much because I did of course employ brutal honesty in my response: I attacked the fact that my education has really been far worse than it should have been. Elaborating, I think that things such as setting and behaviour could have been dealt with by the school better. I don’t really think that I’ve learnt anywhere near as much as I should have done, and in some subjects am teaching myself a lot in revision rather than revising it as it wasn’t taught to me at school. I am and have been bullied throughout the five years and the school have made it pretty difficult to deal with this - the systems are way too inefficient. There are some positives such as various friends, the library, the debating society, but overall I’m pretty unhappy with what’s happened, which is why I spoke the truth to this teacher, since he did ask the question.

So, that’s the end of normal compulsory schooling… onto next exams and then next year.