The bell tolls for kids on first day at school

SMART new satchels? Tick. Shoes polished and shiny? Tick. Hair brushed by anxious parent to within an inch of its life? Tick. Slightly nervous expression? Tick. Yes, this week it was back to the classroom for thousands of pupils across the city – and a trip through the school gates for the first time for the 4051 youngsters starting P1 this year.

It’s a ritual that takes place every August and while fashions might change, the oversized uniforms, the teary parents and the