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Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

Secondary education

Those with dc going into Y8 after a shaky Y7 start!

15 replies

SweetMarmalade · 26/08/2019 20:18

A couple of weeks to go but good luck to your Y8 starters.

Ds has had a rocky start. Not quite fitting in to any friendship groups, not interested in sport, quite the opposite, not finding his feet.

Spent quite a bit of time flitting back and to, to pastoral care, think he just likes having a chat and a cup of tea. Not there because he’s been in trouble but he’s said he’s not felt that well during a lesson etc and it seems an easy ‘get out of lesson’ card?

He’s not enjoyed Y7 really. There’s been a huge upheaval from going to quite a small primary to this huge secondary.

I really hope things improve in Y8.

Anyone want to share their dc time so far please feel free to vent.

Really enjoyed the summer break as Y7 was just so stressful.

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Savoretti · 26/08/2019 20:22

Snap!
DS got teased, bullied a bit, generally pushed around by older boys. Hoping now he’s in Year 8 he won’t be the smallest anymore

SweetMarmalade · 26/08/2019 20:47

Savoretti, fingers crossed for your Ds.

Yes, pushing in the corridors too by the bigger kids. Pushing down the stairs. A wide eyed Ds thinking, why?

It’s been a tough start.

Here’s to Y8 and hoping it brings a much more positive start.

I’ve told Ds to look out for Y7’s and be the support they might need if their start is anything like Ds was.

I’m hoping Ds finds his ‘people’ during this next 12 months and finds an interest. Going to speak to the music teacher to see what he suggests.

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Savoretti · 26/08/2019 21:00

Yes I’ve also told him to be supportive to the Year 7’s now he knows how tough it is.
Also hope the same re friendships. If they can find good friends it helps in everything...

Mercedes519 · 26/08/2019 21:02

DS was exactly like this. Not many existing friends, struggled to make new ones and just didn’t really enjoy it. Year 8 was SO much better, he found his group, got himself a girlfriend and wanted to go to school.

So there is hope and I really think a lot of it is getting used to it but also not being the newbies and smallest in the school!

Northernlurker · 26/08/2019 21:05

Dd has made good friends but the bullying from bigger kids and from her own year about being a 'try hard' - bright and capable - has been pretty bad though school have been proactive in dealing with it. Hoping for better next year.

Blueandredandblue · 27/08/2019 14:14

Ds3 going into y8. He was bullied because he's so good at drama, and not interested in sports like the other boys. Hoping he finds his feet in y8. And true,y hoping he doesn't give up drama.

Mumski45 · 27/08/2019 19:09

For those of you with DS starting Y8 I just thought I would let you know that this time last year my DS was in this situation. Feeling a bit lost in year 7 and not really fitting in anywhere.

Y8 was much better. He grew up, matured a lot and has now "found his people" so much so that he has missed school over the summer and now can't wait to go back next week to start Y9. Hope your DS' have a better year and it does seem to be a common trend that Y8 is a lot better.

SweetMarmalade · 27/08/2019 20:55

Mumski45, thank you for sharing this. I honestly am dreading Ds going back to school. I really do hope he has a much better year.

Glad that your Ds has a more positive Y8, really does give me hope.

Good luck to all who have posted so far. Hope Y8 is a much steadier year for your dc.

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lalaandpo · 29/08/2019 09:24

I have a Ds going in to year 8 who didn't have a great year 7. Very good terms with pupil support and he knows where to go if he needs a bit of time out.
Year 7 was a massive learning curve of him realising that some people find it fun to shove people in the corridor, among other things!
Really hoping year 8 is better!

SweetMarmalade · 30/08/2019 11:01

Lala, here’s hoping Y8 will be an easier year! Yes, corridor shoving and pushing here too. Older boys much bigger than our Y7’s who think it’s funny to push and shove, they must be on such a power trip!

There are some lovely older pupils though, have to keep on reminding Ds of this fact and not focus on the negative all the time but it’s hard.

Hoping we aren’t counting down the days to each half term this year.

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TF4646 · 10/09/2019 21:26

@SweetMarmalade @lalaandpo @Northernlurker @Northernlurker - how have the first few days of YR8 been?

I have a DD who struggled with the transition, it's really hit her confidence. The school were okay, but not great - although she wouldn't be accepting of too much help because 'everybody will be judging me'

I am really hoping she finds her feet and some loyal friends - I'm not sure I can go through the same stress as last year again

@Mumski45 - great to hear that your DS had a better YR8 than YR7

SweetMarmalade · 11/09/2019 08:37

@TF4646 I’m sorry you and your dd had a stressful Y7 too. How has her start being?

Ds first few days have gone really well. Met up with a few friends, all seems to be going well there so far. He’s seen some familiar faces amongst the new Y7 starters and went and said hello. Lots of new teachers and form tutors to get used to this year, some a positive change, others not so (had a favourite teacher for a certain subject) but he’s ok with this for now.

Hopefully Y8 will prove to be a much more settled year, now Ds and I know what to expect. It’s a huge school and there have been some wide eyed moments of pupil behaviour which goes beyond the low level disruption, which in itself can cause issues. I’m really hoping the school gets on top of this. I’m also hoping that Ds does find ‘his people’ and forms stronger bonds with his peers and not just surface friendships where he feels he doesn’t quite fit.

Here’s to all our Y8 starters, they’ve got through Y7, it can surely only be upwards from here

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TF4646 · 11/09/2019 21:15

@SweetMarmalade - so far, so good - it started okay last year so I am hoping that the good start carries on. I think she was excited to get back and meet up with her friends again.

Like you I am hoping that knowing what to expect will go a long way. The plan from last year is that she will have a mentor, an English teacher that she got on really well with. I wasn't sure how she'd feel about that, so hadn't made her aware. Apparently, the teacher in question mentioned it to her the other day and she seemed quite pleased - so that's a positive sign.

Yes, surely it's upwards from here!!

SweetMarmalade · 13/09/2019 20:47

@TF4646 that’s wonderful that your dd has a mentor! I really hope this helps her throughout Y8.

Up to now Ds has been ok. Like you, I’m hoping it continues as Y7 started pretty positive, although it was a shock to the system.

We’ve had a wonderful email from his maths teacher congratulating him on his attitude to learning etc so I’m hoping this gives Ds a much needed boost.

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TF4646 · 14/09/2019 22:03

@SweetMarmalade - I do think that things like an email home make a big difference to getting things off on the right foot.

Long may the smooth start continue :-)

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