is this bag childish for year 7

I would do the same, kids are mean and you wouldn't want to give them any reason to pick on him. I'm sorry i'm a coward too xx

I think a plainer one would be better for Year 7 x

You need to go into sports direct or tk maxx in person and find a plain kne big enough for books and folders, you can't internet shop this. If you found one he liked in person and you couldn't afford it then you could then buy it from Vinted.
I would also not show him options of bags any more just lie and say they're not available and are too small and you have to choose them from x y z shop.
Start of secondary not the time for standing out. Worrying about keyrings is a worry wasted, let that one go, he can have a sonic bookmark or jurassic world wallet or something instead if those are his special interests.

If he's used to polo's perhaps do some school trial runs and get him wearing his shirts and practising buttons or laces in the house. Or again go into a shop and buy some shoes that have laces he can slip on and off, or buy the elastic laces that are stretchy and replace his shoes with those as velcro is too babyish I'm afraid for secondary. Especially if he's in that awkward in-between not having an ehcp or having other markets of being sen but clearly being a sen kid. He needs to find his tribe first and get established xx

He should, in theory, be able to take whatever bag he likes….but we all know that’s not how it works sadly.
So, my advice would be to pick a side, Adidas or Nike, plain black to give him a fighting chance.
Ridiculous and sad, but true, it’s just how it is.

Hello! I work in a secondary school and as much as I want to say let him choose and have what he wants, he’d be better off with a plain black Nike or Adidas rucksack. Those designs are quite childish and I fear would single him out. Plus, too small for all he’ll need to carry.

I’d contact the SENCO too - there will likely be quiet spaces or clubs he could spend break & lunchtimes with like minded peers, away from the hustle & bustle of secondary school life.

My girl has a pokemon backpack in yr 6 going into yr 7 (middle school). I guess it depends on the school but can't imagine any bullying in ours about a bag.

This why are you showing him unsuitable options. Id just have printed off or shown pics of only dark coloured plain large rucksacks and told him school have said it needs to be plain, dark, and large enough.
Or just buy a rucksack and tell him here is your new rucksack for sch. If its all hes got its what he'll use.

I would say these bags are fine for KS1. But my son is in year 5 and has had Nike rucksacks for a few years.

That won’t fit an A4 exercise book for a start. And by the end of his first week he’ll have about six of those. Plus a pencil case, lunch, water bottle, text books.

Good god no please do not let him take that bag. You may as well paint a massive target on his back

If you are going to go down this route "I like it" or "I am a kid" is enough. Speaking as a ND adult, teaching ND "smart arse" lecturing scripts isn't going to make their lives any easier.

All high schools around here insist on black. If a logo it has to be very small, same for shoes.

Our school only allows bags in plain dark colours. However my DS absolutely rocked his pokemon lunchbox until year 9. He very much marches to the beat of his own drum and said that he doesn't care if people have an issue with his lunchbox. He found his people at secondary school and defied my worries by thriving there. I think a lot depends on the child and the school.

Are they allowed that style most schools are only allowed plain black or similar 🤔

Unfortunately they definitely are. My nephew is autistic and was horrifically bullied, a lot of his mates were also bullied. I was bullied 10 years ago for being weird (now know it was autism), and I thought maybe it’s changed… it hasn’t. There’s often some older kids who realise somethings wrong and defend autistic kids, but honestly it’s not always the case. I also work with a lot of home Ed kids who are autistic and all of them were horrifically bullied in mainstream. Some of them were too autistic to realise it was bullying and I almost think that’s better.

I think they would, without a doubt.

@dinosaursroars Normally I would say 'yes', but it's the bag that your child likes and you've said he's recently been diagnosed with autism. Surely children are not so insensitive that they would bully a child with autism?

Yes unfortunately those bags are not for high school unfortunately. I’d say to him you e spoken to other parents whose children attend the school and been advised no character bags are allowed.

Could you say you're not able to have characters on the bag, so he could still get something with colour. I like Vans backpacks and they do all sorts of patterns/colours.

I do think it’s a little childish, yes. In an ideal world the wee soul should be able to have what bag he wants, but some kids are cruel. I also agree with others that is looks a bit small and he’d be better with a bigger backpack- plain colour or a sporty brand.

They have loads to carry. Both of those way too small. But they are both far too babyish for a year 7. It’s hard I know but spell it out to him.

Let him have the bag he likes and you secretly buy a plain black one for when he comes home saying he doesn't want to take the Sonic bag anymore because he was teased. He should be allowed to make his own decisions and see what the consequences are: whether he values the bag he likes more than social acceptance is up to him.
My son took a glove puppet to school in y7. I think he found communication easier through the puppet. Some boys thought it was weird and stole the puppet and shoved it in a bush. Another boy found it and gave it back. He still made friends and learned not to take things he really liked to school.

It doesn't need to be a sports bag but it does need to be large enough. My older daughter's backpack is massive and she has needed it since year 7. My younger child is starting secondary next month and is looking at ones like this on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0GGHMYHJY/?coliid=I18ET7M8QB8Z5G&colid=1166EYFQRMHMR&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1&psc=1
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DP1QQS1T/?coliid=I2TS8CCC7WSNVH&colid=1166EYFQRMHMR&ref_=list_c_wl_lv_ov_lig_dp_it&th=1
To be honest I need to check the dimensions of these options above before I buy one, my older child had/has the following backpack and it was the right dimensions:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07K74LDC6?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_2&th=1

Mine had plain black nike bags all the way through school, I so think the bag is childish for secondary.

All the kids round our way have hype bags. My son and niece both have them. Loads of designs, big enough for secondary school and so much choice im sure you might be able to find him one he likes

It's tiny for secondary school, but also I'd yes yes it's very immature my DS9 just going in to yr 5 would find this too "babyish" for him. His very minimalist Minecraft bag is touch and go at the moment. I'd get ur DS a plain black/blue Nike or puma or whatever sports make backpack.