Thomas More Catholic School has been one of the longest-standing in Croydon. Over the years, teachers and students have come and gone. Here is a snapshot of how life was in the early to middle 2000s ...

1) Life before c1s, c2s,c3’s and c4s

The behaviour sanctions that were introduced in the middle of 2004, were the complete bane of every body’s life. It was always a surprise how a sanction could go from a ‘C1’ (verbal warning) to a ‘C3’ (detention) and the most dished out of them all, ‘C4’ (temporary suspension) which meant you spent the rest of the day excluded from your year group, and then sent home until your parents could come and have a ‘chat’ about your behaviour. Fun times.

2) There was no swanky new sports hall

Back in 2003, there was no hi-tech Sports Hall. It was a derelict tiny building at the back of the playing field, with ancient badminton and rounders equipment. It was also very cold.

3) Having twizzlers and panda pops for lunch

Pre-Jamie Oliver’s national campaign against unhealthy food in schools, we were entitled to sugary carbonated fizzy drinks, all colours of the rainbow, at break and lunch. Also on offer, were ‘twizzlers’- deep fried turkey spirals that could only clog arteries!

4) Going through a broken gate every day to avoid ‘the hill’

One of the most vivid memories would be walking down an alleyway to squeeze through a broken gate to get into school every single day. It started off an insider’s information, and then turned into the way we all got into school… Every. Single. Day.

*For more information see Number 9*

5) Senior citizens day

The one day a year where Year Ten students gathered to do ‘our bit’ for the community. It included going to school, going home and then coming back to school, looking ‘presentable’ to feed and provide entertainment for elderly residents in Purley. It became even more memorable when a care home moved to the bottom of ‘the hill’ and complained that the schoolkids were loud.

6) Having the option to pick between Spanish and French for lessons

Once upon a time we used to have a Spanish teacher AND a French teacher in the school. Some classes (like mine) were put straight into Spanish classes, then when it came to GCSE it got scrapped because not enough people picked it.

7) Running for the 289 bus, which helpfully comes once every 15 minutes and is so small that you never get a seat

The slowest, smallest bus route in the Borough was tasked with taking around 95 per cent of the schools catchment area (central and west Croydon, then Thornton heath etc) to the premises every day. Which would have been perfectly fine if it was A) bigger B) actually on time and C) a lot, lot lot bigger. Can I emphasise anymore?

8) Getting the 60, but dreading the fact that you have to face ‘the hill’

The alternative was the much quicker double-decker 60  bus. Which meant you would get to school in almost half the time, but was forced to accept that the dreaded hill awaits.

9) The hill’s existence

Purley is very hilly. The joy of it is that someone decided to plonk a school right on top of one and make all students have mini workout/ power walk every time they decide to show their face at the school gates. The best part of it all is that when you get to the top of the mini-mountain, there’s two more flights of stairs before making it to uneven school grounds. It was always a pleasure when you’d end up being  late, when technically you would have been on time if it wasn’t for the Olympian feat in front you – the biggest hill on earth!

10) The excitement of being able to ditch the bottle green uniform for the black blazer in Year 11

This was an essential rite of passage. Although it was never clear why the colour distinction between Year 11s and other years were necessary, it meant your finest hour had arrived, because you had dropped the horribly unfashionable bottle green uniform for a sleek and chic black one. Most exciting part was that you was able to buy jumpers with no sleeves, a must have while studying for your GCSEs.

Did you go to Thomas More? What can you remember? Get in touch: newsdesk@croydonguardian.co.uk