Senior School

The first time I visited Badminton School was last June when I came over from Abu Dhabi to sit my entrance test and have tour of the School. I had never been to school in the UK as I was 3 when I moved to the United Arab Emirates with my family.

I remember meeting my guide, a Year 11 pupil who was ever so nice and took great care of me. She took me to the classrooms where my favourite subjects are taught as well as to the Dining Hall, the Creative Arts Centre and the swimming pool. The first teacher I met was Mrs Hughes, one of the Maths teachers who is also a Year 7 Form Tutor. She was friendly and told me what topic we would be doing in Maths and said that there were several other new girls joining Year 7.

I made friends quickly and feel like I have been at the School for years

When I started School last September, there were many things I couldn’t wait to join in with. For example, I had just found out that there were always great activities to do during our lunch times, so I signed up for football, netball, hockey, cross-stitch and Maths Club. As soon as I met my Form class, all the girls were friendly and welcoming to me and all the other new girls. I made friends quickly and I feel like I have been at the School for years. We had two trips in the first Term, one to Mill on the Brue which was a team building one and a visit to Bristol waterfront as part of our Geography syllabus.

I have studied many subjects. So far, my favourites are Games, Art, Science and Chinese. Since I came to Badminton I have tried more subjects and I really enjoy them. For example, Latin, which is a really fun lesson as we get to perform funny plays, read about people’s lives and the stories that they were told thousands of years ago. I also enjoy English, we have just finished reading a book called Holes by Louis Sachar and now we are trying to fill in the missing bits of the story with our own stories.

It is really exciting going to Badminton School but if you are feeling tired or want some downtime there is always something or somewhere to get away from all the excitement. For example, I sometimes go to the Cross-Stitch Club in the Library and do some sewing after lunch or I read a book.

When I leave Badminton, I might go on to study a subject that I really enjoy now, like English or Art. Badminton has given me the chance to be independent and to be able to take on board new things that I have never tried before and to accept change as things don’t last forever.

There are plenty of things to see and do in Bristol, there are great walks to do, lovely cake shops to visit and plenty of sights to see like the Clifton Suspension Bridge. I have also joined a swimming team and I am competing often which I love. Bristol is a very different place to live compared to the places that I have lived before, but now that I have got to know it better I really like it and I know I will be very happy in this city.

My life at Badminton began a long time before I actually joined the School; my parents had been gathering information about schools in the UK since I was around three and Badminton happened to be one of them. At the time, I was living in New York City and was in pre-school.

Among the schools that my parents had chosen to look at, Badminton was by far the friendliest of them all and to my parents, Badminton was the ideal school for me.

In 2011, when I was in Year 4, I flew to Bristol with my parents to visit Badminton for the first time. I attended lessons with the Badminton girls as if I were a student at the School and enjoyed myself very much. It was exactly how I imagined it to be. All of the girls made me feel welcome and as if I had been at the School for years before.

All the girls made me feel welcome and as if I had been at the School for years before

I joined Badminton the following year when I was in Year 5. I was one of three new girls in a very small year group meaning that integrating was incredibly easy and I was able to make new friends very quickly. Coming from a large international school in a capital city, Badminton was very different to what I was used to, however, I quickly realised that the staff, pupils and teachers were immensely open-minded and caring to each individual girl. As Badminton is a relatively small school, the relationship between each girl and between the students and teachers is incredibly close, meaning that each girl receives enough attention in and out of lessons. Three lessons which I remember enjoying vividly in the Junior School are Science, English and Sport. I was particularly impressed by the fact that the Junior School was equipped with a KS3 standard science lab, this was completely different to my previous school where science was taught in a classroom. Each year at Badminton for girls in year three and above, a residential trip is arranged. During my first year at Badminton, we visited Slapton Leigh for two nights. This was a great experience as I got to do things which I had never done before such as rock bouldering and rock pooling.

After moving up to the Senior School in 2014, a lot of new subjects were introduced which I had never studied before. One of these subjects was Latin which is now one of my favourite subjects and GCSE options. Science is another subject which I have enjoyed throughout my time at Badminton, my love for it beginning in the Junior School labs and continuing into the Senior School. I’ve been given many opportunities by the School to participate in events and competitions such as the Maths challenge, the ‘Top of the Bench’ Chemistry competition and English Speaking Board examinations. One of my favourite things about each lesson at the School is that learning is not restricted only to the classroom. The teachers are always keen to answer any questions that we may have throughout the day. During my free time at Badminton, I attend a number of clubs and activities throughout the week. Drama Club is one of my favourites as it allows me to continue to participate in Drama outside of the curriculum. In Year 8, I was also involved in Science and Advanced Maths Club where we studied topics which we would not normally study in the classroom to extend our knowledge. Many of my friends enjoy visiting the Fitness Centre during their free time to work on their strength and technique or visit the Library to sit quietly and read.

Badminton has really helped me to identify the
subjects which I enjoy and excel at

As I am still in Year 9, my goals for the future are still rather vague, however, Badminton has really helped me to identify the subjects which I enjoy and excel at whilst still allowing me to participate in a large variety of subjects. This will help me in the future to make informed decisions about what I choose to do in my life. Badminton has taught me always to be curious, always to ask questions and to learn from each experience no matter how seemingly insignificant. You never know when any information could come in handy!

Before joining Badminton, my family and I didn’t have any knowledge about the city of Bristol. Having lived here for around five years, I can safely say that it is a city with a great sense of community with many open-minded individuals with many ideas to share. Location-wise, it is within travelling distance to London making it easy for international students to get to Heathrow and Gatwick. I thoroughly enjoy each day I spend at Badminton, and hope to continue to study here until my time at school is over.

I knew by the end of the tour that this was somewhere I wanted to be

I joined Badminton in Year 7; the first occasion I came into the School was in Year 6 for an Open Day with my Dad.

I’ve remembered ever since how welcomed I felt when I visited that first time; from with the home made scones to the philosophical question asked by a Religious Studies teacher (which was “where do you come from?” This initially seemed simple however as the question developed it proved more confusing than first appeared!). I knew by the end of the tour that this was somewhere that I wanted to be. When I joined Badminton I didn’t know anybody, however on the first day I had made great friends with everyone! I know that this is something many people joining a new school worry about and I did too, but I can say from experience that at Badminton it is not a problem at all! For me a big aspect of life at Badminton is the whole sense of community. At many other schools in the Bristol area the gates close at four o’clock and will not open again until the morning, whereas at Badminton, the School is open all day and all night, which really makes us just like a real community. It is especially useful when I regularly forget my violin and can pop back to School on Saturday to get it!

I noticed that with Badminton being such a small school
all of the teachers get to know the students really well

One thing I particularly liked on the Open Day was the sense that all of the teachers were so engaged with their class and their learning. I noticed that with Badminton being such a small school all of the teachers get to know the students really well and take an interest in finding the best ways for them to nurture students to thrive within the School.

My first year at Badminton was really a year of finding my place within the School and trying out many new clubs, activities and lessons all of which I loved. I can remember in the first few weeks of Year 7 really enjoying the sense of freedom that the School provides you with. Having everything on campus provides us with an ability to try out as many new and exciting activities that we can think of! The new things that I started doing in my first year at Badminton included swimming clubs (such as early morning swimming at 6.30 a.m. to get you awake and ready for the day ahead!), Orchestra, Art Club, Science Club, Drama Club and Flying Start (this is where we split into teams and made a glider. My team actually won the Bristol regional round and went on to fly our glider at the national round under the Concorde! We won a fantastic trophy!). This year I have really enjoyed a mindfulness course, learning different techniques to manage a range of emotions in different circumstances by understanding how our brain works to make us feel different ways. The chocolate treats at the end of sessions also seem to do wonders for my brain!!

I have a very busy life!

At Badminton I can definitely say that we take pride in our learning and come out of each lesson having learnt something new.  During my first year I particularly loved the Science lessons. I really found that the teachers were knowledgeable and they could answer your question no matter how complicated! The practical experiments that we did really triggered a new side in my brain to think differently about things. Watching liquid nitrogen shows was amazing; especially when it turned into extremely delicious ice cream! I also love the diverse array of languages that Badminton has to offer from French and Spanish to Mandarin and Japanese. The School encourages us to continue pursuing any hobbies and talents that we may have brought to the School. I have a very busy life! I do at least twelve hours of dance each week, drama and music lessons all of which I really enjoy! Badminton has taught me to balance this with schoolwork and time well spent with friends, all of which are really important!

I have been lucky enough to perform with professional companies

I found as soon as I joined Badminton that the School took a particular interest in finding out what I enjoy doing outside School as well as within. I have always enjoyed drama and the performing arts, and the School really supported me in this and encouraged me with all of the incredible external experiences that I have had. This has been particularly important to me, as I have been lucky enough to perform with professional companies; television with the BBC and Samsung, performing on the Bristol Hippodrome in various touring musicals and productions and being a model for the Bristol Fashion week. Going to the House of Commons and Parliament to listen to Prime Minister’s Question Time was also a highlight for me. I was delighted to be granted a day off School and even managed to meet the Member of Parliament Charlotte Leslie (who wanted to hear about everything going on at her old school). On my return I prepared and presented a report about my day in London. The School is so supportive about anything I may want to try to do. I know that this is one thing I will always remember about Badminton and am truly grateful for every day.

Being at Badminton also gives the chance to get to know such a range of people from across the globe

Being at Badminton also gives the chance to get to know such a range of people from all across the globe. I have really enjoyed making new friends, having boarders home with me at exact times and always being able to talk to someone new about a different way of life. The School has also provided me with the chance to be interviewed by Tatler for their 2017 ‘Good Schools’ report, including a very delicious lunch! Being a Student Ambassador and a member of the School Council has been very rewarding and has allowed me to represent the school in various different ways.

I hope to continue the things that I love as grow up, particularly my interest in Drama and English, but I know that whatever I go on to do in life Badminton has provided me with the ability and confidence to do whatever is right for me. I have also learnt so many skills from taking the ESB (English Speaking Board) exams and performing within School (a few of my favourite roles were Gretel in the school production of the sound of music, Molly in Annie and one of the three witches in Macbeth). Other things I have really enjoyed include the musical concerts (especially the St George’s Concert, which is always an incredible event for the whole School) and, during Marquee Week, the Musical Cream Tea and Fairy Lites productions, in which we devised our own scripts!

I feel that Badminton really helps each girl to grow as an individual

One thing that Badminton has given me and that I will always carry with me is to be myself. I feel that Badminton really helps each girl to grow as an individual and be determined to succeed in whatever they do. The School enables me to be a respectful individual driven by my own passion and confidence to succeed.