What size backpack for high school?

[Hussd]

Hi, sorry if this seems like a trivial question to ask in the current climes, but my eldest starts high school this year (hopefully!) and I was wondering what size backpacks to get him?
He has a Kanken classic already, and I was hoping to get the larger laptop version of the same for school. I do want it to last a few years, so would you say the 15" or the 17" since there are two sizes in the laptop versions.
Many thanks.

[Malmontar]

I would get the bigger one so PE kit can fit in there. They start off with separate bags but eventually it all gets stuffed in the backpack and they end up ripping at the seams.

[Hussd]

Ah, I see. Thanks. I had no idea about the PE kit, that probably explains why children here lug around such huge backpacks. I didn't go to school in the UK, so I'm a bit clueless.

[Malmontar]

Haha yes, it does look quite funny, especially on the year 7s. They don't have to carry many books aside from their school diary and reading book. Sometimes they have to take exercise books home for homework but it's a lot less books than most European children have to carry daily.

[Hussd]

Thanks, that's reassuring to know. I went to an Indian school and we carried a textbook plus notebook each for all 5 subjects right from day 1 of Primary school. It did look like the bag carried me rather than the other way round. Back breaking, quite literally.

[RedskyAtnight]

Check if there is a requirement to leave the bag in lockers. If there is, find out how big the lockers are!

[Hussd]

@RedskyAtnight

Check if there is a requirement to leave the bag in lockers. If there is, find out how big the lockers are!

Good point. Thanks, I will.

[TeenPlusTwenties]

Some schools keep exercise books in the classroom.
Others keep them with the pupils.
It can make a big difference as to how much has to be lugged around.

[noxestdormienda]

DS has what I think of as a normal sized rucksack, which works fine. He takes in a toughened A4 zip lock folder for each subject each day (which was an MN tip and has been a godsend, by the way), so any textbooks, exercise books and loose papers go in those, in the rucksack. Otherwise he just has a water bottle (external pocket is helpful for this), occasionally a jumper if he takes it off, and maybe a snack for breaktime. Sports kit goes in a separate sports bag, there's way too much of it to fit in a rucksack! I wouldn't waste money on a Kanken bag, personally. Something like a basic Adidas rucksack from Sports Direct will save you a fortune! Superdry do nice rucksacks too.

[BiBabbles]

It will be very school dependant. I saw it suggested on here to have them wear their old bag, if useable, for a few weeks until they know and then get them a new one.

[Aventurine]

At dc school Nike backpacks are popular, but may be different at your child's school.

[reluctantbrit]

Our school just announced that they will abolish workbooks and each girl will have to bring in a A4 folder with a divider per subject and a lined paper notebook to write on and file in the folder. All exercise books will have to be bought by the parents now as well and the ones for each day’s lesson have to be brought into school

So DD will have to get a new backpack (strict requirements for KS3, no handbags) which will fit said folder and notebook plus diary plus pencil case plus reading book plus required exercise books for the day plus whatever book they read in English Lit plus water bottle and umbrella.

PE Kit, it depends on what they have to have. DD’s won’t fit in any backpack, she has a seperate bag which lives in the locker. Same with art kit.

As you can see it varies from school to school. Check with a local fb group to see what the normal standard in your DS’s school is to get an idea.