Lucy Eggleston Year 8

When I left my Primary School, I had so many friends that my mum used to have to write notes on the door saying if I would go outside or not because the doorbell rang so often. I was pumped about going to secondary school. However, it wasn’t what I planned. You got put in isolation if you misbehaved on any level, or if you forgot your PE kit. The stress me and my friends were under was horrible. It came to the Christmas holidays and we all couldn’t wait to leave. When I came back after the holidays, all my friends wouldn’t talk to me and I didn’t have a clue why. My best friend started being horrible to me and spamming me with horrid messages on Instagram. So I decided that I wanted to move to the second half of the school – because there were two parts to the school. So I moved, but it was worse. Everyone was always saying, “Go back to the other half of the school. No one likes you here.” I had this for a year. I thought maybe if I stuck it out they would stop. They didn’t.

Everyone was scared of all the teachers that no one would put there hand up to answer a question in case they got it wrong. I didn’t get my first year of education. When I started that school my grades were top of every class. When I left year 7. They were below what I started with.

InterHigh is the best thing that has ever happened to me. All the kids are amazing, kind and friendly. Because it’s online, you can go abroad in the term time. The teachers are so loving and kind, the lessons are stress-free. They bought all my confidence back and they don’t force you to do anything. It’s amazing when you come to revise because all the lessons are filmed, so you can always go back to them if necessary. For weeks after I left my normal school I was genuinely scared to go outside in case I saw someone. So even though I didn’t leave my house for days, I still got to my lessons and I feel safe in the lessons, I’m never afraid to ask a question or ask the teacher to go over something again.

I suffer from a syndrome called Hybermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Which means the tendons around my joints are super stretchy/flexible. So when I sprain something or break something its way more significant than a normal person injury. It’s longer recovery time and you do genuinely injure yourself more than others. My knees are the worst because they dislocate quite often. Which meant that I couldn’t take part in PE as often as I should’ve done (at normal school.) And I was almost constantly on crutches or have a cast or a sprain and so many people told me I was faking all these injuries, when I wasn’t. That’s why InterHigh is good because you don’t have to travel and no one see’s what you look like. They deal with bullying brilliantly. Some girl made a joke about my surname and they called her parents and the girl was made to write an apology letter and ever since that incident of my months of being here nothing has happened since. I can go and do normal things I would during the day while my “friends” are at a normal school. I just wanted to say. Thank you InterHigh. You’ve changed my life so much (in a good way). I can never fully thank you for what you’ve done for me.

The English classes are great because the teachers allow you to act out the book that we are studying at the time and then do the work. I never think, oh this is boring, I don’t wanna do it etc. It's so fun.

A typical day at InterHigh is just packed of fun and learning. At a normal school, getting to school is hard, cars everywhere, kids messing around, teachers shouting etc. At InterHigh all, you need to do is log in and join your lesson. Completely stress-free, very quick and very easy. Lessons are around 30-60 minutes and around 4 times a day. You can always catch up easily on a lesson if you miss one as you can re-watch the lessons as many times as you need to.

InterHigh has bought my confidence back. All the teachers are supportive, in whatever you need help with, from school work- to life outside of school. I missed pretty much a whole year of my education and being in this school for just over 4 months now I’m only slightly below where I should be, which in 4 months Is very good.

People should consider it because: 1. A normal school isn’t free, you’ve got all the trips to pay for. Uniform, new shoes, new books, bags etc. So actually coming to InterHigh is way better and not much more expensive than going to a regular school. Also, it’s the best school I’ve ever been to. 2. I haven’t got stressed at all while being here. The working environment is so amazing, the teachers are so patient and are so kind. They always encourage us to do new things. 3. There is a massive InterHigh discord chat. Where every Saturday there is a study group for every year and everyone is so quick at getting back to you if you struggling with something and just moral support. 4. None of the lessons are boring. 5. Teachers are so fast at getting back to you. 6. There is no downside to this school. I love it so much!

Make sure to be on time for your lessons as its confusing if you join a little late and the teacher has to re-explain everything again; that’s all.

I love everything about InterHigh. What I love the most is the fact that there are competitions quite often and that the school isn’t all just about learning it's about taking part and having fun.