come back and report all you parents of those sept brand new Yr7 kids, how did they get on?

Not sure if it counts as a tip, but I had expected to know less than in primary about dd's progress. In fact it is the opposite, as she brings her books home so I can see what she's doing, what her teachers have written etc. (Although perhaps I should assume that I only get shown the good ones )

If the school keeps all books in school, you don't need a rucksack.

Use a crystal ball to know how much (or not) your child is going to grow!

My DD is getting on really well. She was very nervous before she started but she's made some new friends as well as keeping in touch with ones from her old school.

The first half of the term absolutely wore her out though. She seems to be managing better now. It took her a little while to work out a schedule that she's comfortable with and she's learned (the hard way) how beneficial it is to pack her bag the night before.

I wish I'd known that they're not likely to use their football boots until after Christmas though. I'm not at all sure that the ones we got her in July will fit her by the time she actually gets to use them.

Reasonably good so far - a bit of a wobble with teasing (dd isn't the most socially adept) but her form tutor and head of year have been very good and it seems ok now.

Bags / pencil cases etc haven't been an issue here, dd just has a Karrimor rucksack style bag (though she isn't the type to be aware of what is 'right', see above . . .). They have an optional fleece as part of the uniform which solves the 'no coat' problem as it is light enough to just stuff in her bag - they do have lockers, but there isn't enough time to get back to the locker after last lesson and before the bus leaves.

Homework also doesn't seem to be a big issue, I'm not sure whether they really don't get set much or dd is doing it in the library, certainly not much gets done at home, however she got 'a' for effort for all subjects bar one on her first end of term report so I assume all is ok!

So far so good. She has settled in and is doing well academically. She has a strong rucksack and I would say needs it as she has to carry a lot of stuff, however she wants a satchel style oil cloth bag as that is what everyone else has. I've told her to use her xmas money on one of that is what she wants.

Not made many new friends, she has made some that she sees in school only but yet to make any she sees ouit of school. However she went to school with plenty of people from primary so maybe she doesn't feel the need to make any new friends.

She has joined 2 clubs that she loves.

Let them do (within reason) whatever makes them fit in. DD wanted to wear vans, all black ones are allowed. I said no and bought school shoes which didn't last they fell apart, she is now wearing (fake, ASDA copy) Vans and is happy! Lesson learnt could have saved myself somemoney there!!

My daughter is now in Year 8, but looking back a year:

1. I'd have bought a strong backpack bag straight away - two broke in first term due to weight of books. We replaced with an Animal backpack, which is still looking good. Most of her friends have now swapped fashion bags for backpacks and one has a satchel.

1. As said, don't expect to be so involved. If my daughter was meeting up with someone new, going to their house, or them coming here, I asked for parents telephone numbers. All were happy to do this and seemed to agree. Also, handy for them if they don't understand homework and didn't have the courage to ask teacher.

1. Do get them a mobile phone. Mine hardly uses hers (we are just about to top up £10 for the first time since Sept 2012), but it's useful if she wants to go to school library or perhaps do something with a friend after school - she has no excuse not to let me know what she's doing.

1. As said, copy timetable so you have a copy the first term. Double check bag (on the quiet in morning) and if a book is missing, just happen to notice it on bedroom floor or wherever and ask if it's needed - don't tell them you've been going through their bag though!

The first term they do have a lot to think and worry about, so try to be supportive. Make sure they have all the materials they need for school and making projects at home. If you have a busy family weekend coming up, forewarn them so they can try and get homework done in the week. If they loose something, try not to get annoyed (even though you will be) - if it's labelled it turns up at some point. My daughter goes to a school with 1600 pupils and she's always managed to locate or had things turn up.

Homework was a shock, but it's now eased off. I expected my daughter to come in, have a chat and snack and then do homework and I got so frustrated and worried when she would come in, chat & snack, mess about on ipod for an hour, then insist on her shower/bath early and then start homework just as tea was ready. I've now found this works for her, she does get the work done and will work until 9pm if she has to and still seems to sleep.

You don't want to be approaching the school every 5 mins, but if you have concerns, do contact them. They are very approachable still and supportive.

Well it's been a big of a roller coaster for us as DD1 has found it way more stressful than I was expecting. I hadn't realised before quite what an anxious girl she can be. She had been so worried about getting a detention fo forgetting her book or forgetting sims homework.

The school habd been very supportive though and things are now improving.

On a positive note, she loves most of hef lessons anx seems to bd progressing in leaps and bounds.

Nog sure what tips I would give other than expect the unexpected.

Honestly? She is having an absolute ball! Loves school, has made lots of new friends, has joined 8 clubs in school (as well as her out of school stuff), seems to be coping with homework and social stuff balance.

Tips and tricks? Having a cool pencil case or bag - Cath Kidston still seems to be very in round here - she has a real CK pencil case, (only £8) but just a similar style oilcloth schoolbag. Is just a little thing, but does seem to help with fitting in a bit.

Multiple copies of timetable for easy packing of bag - and if they have a 2 week timetable can be useful for asult to note on calendar week a or b so theer isn't the 'is it German or Spanish this week?' panic in the morning. DD regularly seems to be texted by mates asking which week it is, or whether sir or miss has their books.

1. Get a locker
2. Don't buy everything on the list until you actually need it
3. Invest in a Mii backpack
4. Don't fret about them refusing to wear a coat. They eventually decide they would rather be warm than cold.
5. Don't expect to be anywhere near as involved/well-informed as you were in yr 6. They just need to get on with it themselves & fight their own battles, unless it's really serious.