Join in here if your PFB is off to secondary school in September or if you have any advice for thew newbies

I have DTSs starting secondary in September. Dreading the expense of 2 sets of kit I must say. They had their 'taster' day last week which they enjoyed. They are thankfully in the same tutor group as all through primary they were separated (not my choice).

I know I will cry when they finish primary in two weeks just as I did with DD (think I was more upset than her due to the realisation that she was growing up and time was moving on!) who has now finished school and will be starting college in September!

I will have a years grace from the school run, as I am hoping the DTSs will start walking on their own as we live very close to their new school, before DS3 starts primary next year when I shall start all over again - aarrrrggghh!

I do have a real worry about DTS2 who is currently working to a YR3 level in Yr6. His primary have never been very helpful and have never suggested any further intervention other than School Action+ which he has been on since Yr1. They have written him off as a troublemaker as we have had lots of behaviour problems too (just silliness, no nastiness). I requested further assessment in Yr5 as with secondary looming, I was afraid he would slip through the cracks and they have mentioned possible ASD which makes sense to me but we are still awaiting a full assessment (since Feb) and they have just told me that it won't happen before Oct at the earliest which I am fuming about as the Consultant assured me they would do it before he started Secondary so we could at least try to get any extra help he may need in place from the start.

DS1 is working to a Yr7/8 level thankfully as their primary have always given me the impression that they feel I have not done enough with DTS2 at home to help him catch up which has been so annoying as they don't seem to get how difficult it is to get him to do anything' let alone complicated projects which I would end up doing for him which defeats the point! He can't even tie his shoelaces which DTS1 mastered at age 7. At least they will be together and have each other which is a comfort. Stlll very worried though.

List on the front door of things to remember each day helped us too: phone, water bottle, money, fruit, PE kit, Art stuff etc etc. I also have his timetable and a time table of after school clubs up in the kitchen too, as it gets a bit complicated.

When he was given his timetable we scanned and saved on the PC - which has been handy for when he and his friends have lost their copies.

Pannetone can't find a brand name on it, but I think it was a Black's own brand one. He's a bit of a string bean physique-wise and the straps aren't too far apart - he says his books feel much lighter in it than the two that preceded it.

What rucksack did you get in the end Cats?

With trainers for secondary school be careful not to get black soled ones that will mark the sports hall - we nearly fell into that trap last year (though I think some brands are non-marking).

We found there was masses of homework at first and it was a bit of a shock to the system, even though we knew it was coming. In hindsight I think it was a good wake-up call.

We bought about three rucksacks until we found a really good, quite expensive, one that protects his back from the huge load he has to carry.

Oh, and my DD got masses of homework in the first term and they were very strict, it lessened a little as time went on.

We got some A4 sized storage boxes in WH Smiths that my DC chose; one for each day of the week so the books can go in there when they get home and are easily found in the morning panic when they are packing their bag the night before. Three years in and they still get used.

My tip for new Y7 starters would be to get into good habits; keep a list of which topics they are covering in each subject, and make sure they get the notes from friends if they miss any lessons.

I think it depends on the child; DS1 has had some success with mind-maps and self-testing, less with flashcards.

Revision techniques are certainly something mine haven't been taught at school, yet DS1 was expected to have magically acquired these skills by the summer of Y7.

I would second the revision issue - but it's a difficult one -how do you teach a child how to revise - were we ever taught?

Well, I agree Y8 seems to be a good year for many - hopefully settled in nicely but without too much pressure. I guess as part of what to expect at secondary they'll feel they need to get them used to some homework expectations in Y7 ?

We had the opposite experience with regards to homework. They ramped it up right from the first week of Y7. It settled down after the summer exams at the end of Y7 and in Y8 he hardly seemed to get any homework at all.

I found that he was fine to do 90% of the Y7 homework without input or assistance, but he struggled with large, open-ended tasks e.g. long essays that they were given a couple of weeks to complete. He didn't seem to know where to start or how to break the task down.

We also discovered that he had no idea how to revise, but that's a different issue.

Juggling.

Yes, we experienced this too. In fact most y7 teachers I have come across usually say first full term for settling in. They expect a bit more in half term leading up to xmas. So first half term getting used to where you are supposed to be, what you are expected to do, and teacher/school expectancies and rules.

On the other hand you may find that even schools with a reputation for hard work don't pile it on too badly at the start of Y7. Most know that settling in is the main thing to start with. They ramp it up gradually - like boiling frogs (so they don't notice as much and jump out of the pan)
So, don't be too scared !

I would say be prepared to support your child with her homework for hours and hours in Y7.
Ours mostly involves internet research and how to structure work - neither of which skills are particularly well taught as skills at school.
Hours invested in the first term or two in Y7 will mean they can go it alone later on. Do not believe your dp when he accuses you of spoon feeding. Its not spoo feeding, its teaching your dc basic skills.

buy - sorry, a touch of senility/ dyslexia (respect to both)

On coats .... at DCs secondary (wow, both there soon !) as with many others I think, blazers are compulsory at all times (can be carried in summer ) So, anyway, have to be worn over blazers.
Luckily for us we happened to by a rather over-sized lovely woolen black coat as it was in the sales. This has been perfect as it turns out, and dd has happily worn on really cold days, and looks more stylish than those who will only wear blazers even in the snow ! (Or a largeish raincoat could be an idea)

IMHO schools should reconsider their policies and allow winter coats in the winter (and dispense with blazers in winter - aren't they more a summer thing ?) Ho Hum !

Hello, been there, bought the t shirt and finished now.

A tip.
When you go to your open evening you may be given a list of school uniform. There may even be a representative of a company or even several.
Don't sign up or buy anything until you know the dc will definitely wear the optional navy blue sweater that all the other dc hate so much and call the kids who have them swot or geek.
Check with other parents if you can. Also if they wear a blazer, before buying outdoor coat also check if dc wear them. At my dc school they had nowhere to hang them, or they were stolen, so kids didn't wear them.

Marking my place. Year 6 leaving show tonight. Sob.

DS has been supplied with sticky back plastic ready to cover his exercise books next year during his induction week.
His stationery list (for those who don't have one!) is
pencil case
black/blue writing pen
red/green pen
highlighters
lead and colouring pencils
glue stick
safety scissors
sharpener
eraser (no tippex)
maths set - protractor, compass, ruler
scientific calculator (DS assures me this needs to be casio)
French/German/Welsh/English dictionaries
A4 plastic folders and wallets

I have been peering at passing feet as children go to get the bus (unobtrusively I hope!) and clarks lace-up style seem to be standard amongst the girls. DD will be perfectly happy with that I think as she nearly chose them this last year. Proper backpacks (mostly surf brands) seem to be universal.

Lots of velcro shoes at our local high school as they insist on Clarks style shoes and M&S uniform or approved local supplier.
No coats, jumpers are compulsory when school say so, blazer all year round.

My main advise would be to get involved but in a different way than primary as my daughter is so embarrassed about me!

I joined the PTA and I find this a really good support and feel involved in the school but not at the gates( so less embarrassing).The PTA has parents that have been through different stages and the teachers are a great resource at clarifying issues.

Yes, I have PFB stating in Sept, so glad about this thread, just thought it was me feeling the same! The school is on the next street and am already worried about him walking on his own, so need to get a grip.

He's lookind forward to it, very excited and ready to start. His younger brother in Y1 at primary school is very sad they they will no longer have 'lunchtime cuddles' or come a play with him at lunchtime or have lunch together. Big bog brother has told him he will get extras before and after school

Mine get supplied with exercise books (which sometimes have to be covered in subject-relevant images as the first homework).

Also get supplied with textbooks where needed, but most of the information is supplied on the smartboard or on endless printed handouts that they are supposed to stick into their exercise books.