What's your child done so far in year 7?

[MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX]

My son has just started year 7. We chose this particular school on recommendation from friends of mine who's children go there already, it is heavily into drama and music which were ds favourite lessons and the fact that it was where his best friend and a lot of his classmates were going to. (We missed out on visiting senior schools last year as ds was home schooled until mid October of last year. Long story.)
Any way we are approaching the end of the 3rd week in the school and so far I have not seen a piece of paper, an exercise book or anything that would suggest any form of lesson is taking place. My son is completely bored. Apparently according to him they spend most of the lesson telling the pupils what is and isn't acceptable behaviour over and over again and if they do start to do a lesson and someone whispers or does anything that is not "acceptable" behaviour then the lesson is stopped and they go over the school rules again till the bell goes and then it all starts again in the next lesson. Spoke to a teacher regarding this and they seemed quite proud of the fact that they spent so long telling pupils how to behave and that the school is so strict. The drama teacher apparently rants so much ds comes home with a headache every time he has a lesson and now hates the subject.
I have spoken to his head of year and the conversation was something akin to a conversation with Beefy Bert from Horrid Henry.

"I dunno" or "we haven't got round to that yet"


Were the only replies I got.

Also after specifically asking which friend he wanted to be in the same class as, they have split them up so he knew no one in his class. Apparently they do this so they will go out and find new friends.

Whole thing has been a disaster as now he is refusing point blank to go to school and it is taking me a good hour each morning stressing out on how to get him into school.

Am I asking too much at this stage in a new school that I see some work or are all schools taking things slowly.

[outtolunchagain]

It sounds bonkers ,so mad in fact that I can't believe it's for real , not doubting you but just agog.

Ds3 has just started year 7 ,apart from breaking his arm the first sat of term ( school have been fantastic) he has had baseline testing, dyslexia screening , a singing test.He has joined a couple of clubs and had at least 2 homeworks a night , there have been two sports matches against other schools ( he was mascot because he can't play) and tonight is at a bowling evening which is meant to help them bond .In fact when I think about it he has done so much I couldn't possibly write it all down .

They have had some talks about rules but I think it's mostly gentle reminders at the moment.

[cls77]

Yep sounds bonkers to me too! My dd has had "the rules" during first week, joined three clubs, had baseline tests in English maths and history, music was also singing test, and she has been out in a set for maths as if today. Homework wise, three or four each week including a four week 8 page geography project.

[cls77]

*put in a set as of today :)

[Sunnymeg]

DS had homework set the first day and every school day since. The first week it was write/draw/find pictures to describe yourself etc. After that it became proper homework, if you know what I mean. He had CAT tests the second week of school. He was already in sets based on SAT results, but DS's school change things after October half term based on the CATs and his standard of work.

[AChickenCalledKorma]

Sounds grim. DD1 had lots of stuff about rules and procedures on the first morning, but it's been normal lessons ever since after lunch on day 1. She's been doing plenty of work which is interesting and stretching, but not excessively so, and has had at least one piece of homework most nights (one page on history of bunsen burner, identify prime numbers to 100, write out german words for the days of the week, stuff like that).

She's also been on a house day where they went into the woods and did team-building stuff, had a clubs fair and joined three clubs. We have logins for the VLE and a parent portal, so have a pretty good idea what is going on and can spy on what she ate for lunch . And this week, they've had individual academic tutoring appointments, where targets were set for the term, although all the targets were totally generic (achieve 95% attendance, get 50 house points) because they admitted that they don't yet know enough about the students to set them individual targets.

[invicta]

My dc has had a few pieces of homework - nothing too much. Rules and regulations were covered in the first lesson in each subject. Do they have a two week rota? If so, that could be why he is still having rules etc, as he may be having his first lesson in the subject.

[muddymarvellousdarling]

My DD has had Baseline tests in most things. Has been moved up in Maths. ( so her timetable has changed)
She has had a lot of homework and her exercise books are filling up.

I think DD has done more in the last few weeks than she did in year 6.

DD (so far) is loving year 7.

[lljkk]

DD is good excessive about in daily updates.

So far: Knows how to get a weekly bus pass.
Put plastic sheeting & decorations on several school notebooks.
lunch time sport most days.
Lots of new buddies.
Invited to tea with new friend.
Learnt to use her planner.
Not sorted her music lesson yet

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

Maths: Pythagoras & factorisation.
History: background to the Norman Conquest.
Geography: not a lot.
English: different types of noun.
French: alphabet, greetings etc.
Latin: half of stage 1 of Cambridge Latin course.
Science: cells, organs & systems.

Other stuff:
Joined a choir.
Made some friends.
Played some rugby.
Watched The Simpsons
Learned how to beat the lunch queues.

[ThreeBeeOneGee]

He spent the first morning doing tests in Maths & English and has also had tests in IT & singing. Each subject teacher did the obligatory rules & expectations talk in the first part of the first lesson he had for that subject.

[Hulababy]

DD has had several proper lessons now, and homework in many subjects too. The first science lesson included safety talks but that's about it.

Based on talks with DD so far:

Maths - algebra
English - writing an autobiography
ICT - PP using hyperlinks
Biology/Chemistry/Physics - not sure what she is studying in these as yet, though know she has done them
Spanish - numbers, greetings
French - numbers, greetings, likes and dislikes
Drama -not sure but apparently teacher is very cool :)
PE - netball, gymnastics
Music - not sure
History - middle ages I think, or Norman conquest stuff? I know one homework was about Harald Hardrada and wanting to be king/battle of Stamford
Geography - can't remember
DT - hanging mobiles


Lots of homework has included backing books.

[ThePuffyShirt]

Blimey - such different experiences.

My son has had loads of homework (all easy, fun stuff but tricky maths). He has had tests galore, inc his CATs. He has had a football tournament and a cross country competition. He has started his guitar lessons and joined a few clubs. His bag is bulging with text books and exercise books, all colour coded in plastic book covers. The parents have been invited to a social evening at which we met the house tutors and house prefects and head of year. We have another meeting evening with the house tutor in 2 weeks.

He loves it - so far, but went to bed tonight looking absolutely spent.

[Tiggles]

DS1 spent the first week writing the school rules into each lesson's exercise book, then his homework each day was to cover the books. The next week was into proper work. He's done something proper in every lesson, although I haven't seen in some subjects what as e.g. physics the teacher has never sent their exercise books home. I know his first German lesson was to learn "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit" (yes it is a Church school).
They have been setted for Geography and History, and maths too. They do their CATS next week (what ever they are, didn't knowt they existed until saw it on the school calendar and then this thread).

[Soditall]

Our DS is autistic and so far he has had loads of homework,French,Math's,Geography,Science,English lit,Ict(big piece of homework)art(big piece of homework)made some really good friends(which is a great relief to us)been swimming,done lots of different types of PE.

OP I'd be having a serious word if I was you,could you speak to a parent governor about your concerns?

[dementedma]

Ds hasn't had much really
French - vocab and a bit of writing about himself
History - designing a historical theme park!
Science - identifying local species of wildlife,
Maths - happy numbers!
3 days outdoor ed doing bushcraft
Played hockey and rugby
Joined Amnesty International
Next week he is going up a local hill to write a poem!
He does some odd stuff but seems to be enjoying it so far

[swannylovesu]

so far my ds1 has:
Completed a family tree to 5 generations
Math Homework about polygons
Science Homework to investigate forensics


He was also made captain of the football team boast

This is the child who could no right in primary. Who couldnt work independantly and would "struggle" in year 7, according to his year 6 teacher!

[mimbleandlittlemy]

Maths - tests and now set
English - starting to read the set text for the term and multiple choice tested to make sure they'd actually done it!
D&T - doing mood boards based on designs from Inca/Aztec civilisations
German - numbers, greetings, days of the week, months etc
History - the end of the Romans in the UK and the arrival of other settlers
Geography - researching a country they most want to visit that they haven't been to.
Science - lots of practical work - "Bunsen burners are great"
Music - they are all learning to play the school's ukuleles
Games/PE - "stuff" and they've had to do a written piece about aspects of sport

They are off to the British Museum for their first school trip on Monday

Had target setting day with class tutor on Wednesday so both parent and child now know what they are expected to achieve this term

Chosen two lunch time clubs and an after school one all of which start next week

At least 3 pieces of homework a night

Threebee - at the lunch queue - my ds has done the same!

[AChickenCalledKorma]

swannylovesu how fantastic! Isn't it great how they get the chance of a fresh start.

[swannylovesu]

its amazing. I spent the whole of yr6 in a panic about him going up, but they seem to understand him instantly. He tested the water the first week with a few outbursts but they nipped it in the bud and hes been fine since!

[MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX]

Well I will give you an update on Monday evening which should prove interesting as we have been invited to the open evening to see ds's "work". He says he hasn't done anything so we shall see.
Spoke to one of my friends about drama teacher and she confirmed he does shout a lot but she thought that was normal behaviour for a drama teacher!!
The school according to its website has a very good range of after school activities however the three my son had chosen from the website were drama, singing and IT club and he was looking forward to these activities. The drama teacher he hates and if you haven't been chosen for the school play Drama club won't start anyway till January. They have stopped singing club and the IT club, they need a few weeks more to get themselves organised.
Thanks for the feedback I thought I was being pushy expecting things to be a little more organised. My daughter goes to a private school and some of my friends have turned round and pointed out that this school isn't a private school and not to expect as much.

[MILLYMOLLYMANDYMAX]

Very jealous of all you who have actually seen an exercise book.

[mankyscotslass]

DS1 is in YR7.

So far he has had homework most nights and we have seen exercise books for most topics - I know because I have supervised the covering of them!

He has had a Maths test, and as a result Maths Sets have now been done, English test and some targets given for DT and ART.

He has also done a History assessment on what they have studied in the last two weeks!

[minidipper]

First week: endless book backing and finding pics to decorate the books.
Some personal writing: favourite colour, dreams for the future etc - getting to know you stuff, and geog was how to get from home to school.

Second week: proper homework every night: maths, English, an actual essay for history, research for tech and science, vocab for French etc.

Also did tests in week 2.

We've seen plenty of homework and clubs are up and running.

What you describe does sound grinding. Your poor DS having drama turn into an unpleasant subject because of the teacher shouting.

[BackforGood]

After the first 2 days, dd2 has been on normal timetable.
She's had 'homework' every night.... the first night it was just to get parents to read a page in the planner and sign the home/school agreement, she's not had hours of study, IYSWIM but has had cause to open her bag and get her planner and subject books out. That said, some nights she has had something to do from 4 different subject teachers, so plenty of opportunity to look at her books if I were so inclined.
I don't know if all the clubs have started yet - she's into sport, and I know has signed up for (and been to) 3 of those. Couldn't comment on any other curriculum area clubs.

[Everhopeful]

HoY not impressive, though he may simply be trying to buy himself time to find out what's happening. I hope you are reassured this evening, but wonder if you can just eyeball the drama teacher anyway- not necessarily to challenge, but to form your own impression of him?