School bag for year 7 girl

[RedSkyAtNight]

DD's primary school bag is on its last legs, so we need to get a new one for Year 7. Despite having a boy already in secondary school, I have no idea (and neither does he apparently), what your average Year 7 uses as a school bag so hoping someone can enlighten me!

The criteria I do have ...

• she will sometimes cycle so needs to be manageable on a bike (she does have a basket)
  

-school has "no bag" policy, so small enough to fit in a locker

• she doesn't stick out like a sore thumb
  
• cheap as possible :)

[TeenAndTween]

DD just finishing y7 uses a backpack, as do a lot of the others who walk to school. There seem to be quite a few similar to this
no doubt you can get things similar but cheaper.
Others have those stupid oversize bags that are carried on the crook of their arm.

If they have a 'no bag' policy, how do they carry their planner, pencil case, food tech items, homework etc?

[RedSkyAtNight]

Thanks Teen - I'm aware that that the "right" backpack is also an issue not that I have memories of DS looking at about 50 before picking one that was just right or anything

Planners and pencil cases go in blazer pockets; they go back to their locker at break and lunch to return things from last lessons/get books etc for the next couple of lessons.

[TeenAndTween]

If they haven't broken up yet then hang around at going home time and spy.
If they have, then could she start with her primary bag and replace after the first week? (unless it is a Frozen one )

[Blanketdog]

The cool option is the fake leather handbag. Dd has a rucksack and is desperate to have a tote.

[Ollycat]

A Hype backpack - cool but not massively expensive (will also withstand the use).

[LockedOutOfMN]

I would buy her an inexpensive backpack - see if there are any in the sales - to take on day one as she may well decide when she sees what the others have that she wants something different. Then she could use the original one for P.E. kit (or you could end up using it yourself as happens in our family so as not to waste anything! )

For example, this one looks fairly inoffensive (and similar to what the students use at the secondary school where I teach). It's 30 pounds including a notebook and free delivery:

[RedSkyAtNight]

Unfortunately they have already broken up, and I'm at work at going home time anyway.

DD has a fairly plain sports type rucksack - the main issue is that she wrote her name on the outside in permanent marker when she was about 7 ... and she herself has said she's not taking it near secondary school.

[katcatkat]

Buy a cheap one then get one at Christmas time much better as she knows what she wants.

[RedSkyAtNight]

Yes, I'm starting to think that the getting something cheap and inoffensive idea and letting her pick a "proper" bag later might be the way to go ...

[LittleIda]

In dd's school the cool ones have oversized handbags on the crook of their arm but loads have rucksacks too. Eg. Hype. Dd has a hype backpack. I would let her have cool stuff if she wanted but she doesn't want it. Her bag can be heavy and she has a 35 minute walk, so it's probably just as well.

[SafeToCross]

Hype backpack or overarm large handbag depending on your style. And a seperate linen bag or similar for PE kit.

[greathat]

The cool thing is a Bag big enough for make up and nothing else! Sensible kids go for a back pack. Textbooks can be fairly bulky if they are carrying them

[Rudi44]

DD has a really nice and sturdy Herschel bag that's over a year old but still looks brand new. Hype are definitely mega popular and I see lots of Superdry bags too, plus some Cath Kidston.

[toledanosunshie]

Carhaart rucksack here and a Nike PE bag. Eldest was adamant that this was what middle needed to be cool when she started year 7.

[noitsnotteattimeyet]

Dd and her friends nearly all have these - she started off with a Cath Kidston-like floral satchel but quickly realised it wasn't that practical

Different schools have very different ideas as to what is cool though so I second (or third) the idea of going in with something cheap and finding out what girls in her school are mostly using

[ifonly4]

Totally agree with a backpack. DD went through two fashion bags in the first term as they couldn't take the weight of everything. She then insisted on a Cath Kidson like satchel and as noits found out they weren't practical (not big enough).

DD had two backpacks for the rest of her secondary time - nothing expensive approx £11/12, one was a dusty turquoise, the other a purple colour, both had a pattern on the front pocket.

[Shhhh]

Whatever bag you decide to get ....don't worry because by the end of yr 7 you daughter may have conned you into buying several other ones likeminedid
She had one from Florida , a hype one, ted baker one, primark one & finally one from Cath kidston.
All her own choice & guess what... she reckons she needs a new one for yr8 . In her words today " otherwise she'll be bullied" I kid you not.
I'm not buying another one for a long time !

[Twistmeandturnme]

Mine started the year with a cute backpack. Quickly nagged for a giant handbag from TK Maxx. Changed school at spring bank and changed back to a backpack but a plainer more functional one than her first one. It won't be changing in September!
My advice: go cheap for now as she will want to fit in and bags are (ridiculously) a big thing. If you haven't spent a fortune it will be easier to indulge her at Christmas.