As you walk into the new Year 8 block you are instantly met by the smell of fresh paint, buttered toast and tea. Everything is new, from the beanbags in house colours, to the smart boards in every classroom.

Although housing only four classrooms and a common room, the rooms are enormous, twice the size of any other that the Prep School houses.

Although they could house forty with ease, the class sizes are the same; between 13 and 20, leading to the rooms feeling spacious, light and airy. History, English and Religious Studies are all taught in the Year 8 block, along with all of the Year 8 tutor groups.

Yet the climax of this new addition to our school has to be the long awaited Year 8 Common Room with kettles and toasters, sofas and beanbags. There is all this along with easily enough room to house 54 active teenagers, bouncing around like half-crazed Eskimos.

The fact that it is open to Year 8 throughout break time and lunch time means that it is widely agreed to be the most enjoyable, relaxing and popular place in the Prep School.

One Year 8 pupil said: "The common room gives you more options to do at break, along with more responsibility and freedom."

Whilst another said: "The common room means we are treated more like adults and we're able to make toast and tea. The classrooms are also far more spacious than we had before."

Year 8 Pupil