Teenage and Student Years
The Last Day at School
A reconstructed diary entry about Margaret’s final day at secondary school and the uncertain gap before her first job begins.
- Schools and colleges
- Harbour View Infants School, Portsmouth, 1967–1969; Castle Lane Junior School, Portchester, 1969–1973; Portchester County Secondary School, 1973–1979; evening classes at Fareham Technical Centre, 1980–1982. The school and training-centre names are fictional.
- Qualifications
- CSE Grade 1 in English and Office Practice, CSE Grade 2 in Mathematics and History, RSA Stage I Typing, RSA Stage I Book-keeping, and later workplace training in first aid, safeguarding, data protection and school administration.
Evening Classes
Margaret begins evening classes in typing and office practice, taking the first formal step towards improving her clerical skills.
A Second-hand Typewriter
Margaret buys a second-hand portable typewriter so she can practise for her RSA typing qualification at home.