One week and counting till Yr 7

Hi all:

Hope all your DCs/ PFBs made a good start in Y7. DD1 seems to have had a good first day and we're hoping today goes as well (and they sort out the locker combination problem for her).

Just thought I'd let you know DD1 relented (thanks to persuasion from DD2) and I was able to get a photo of both girls in their school uniform - the compromise was that it was out back in our garden (out front would be too embarrassing! apparently).

Paddy, my daughter sounds similar and doesn't know anyone but was very excited getting her bus this morning, fingers crossed she has a good day.

Keep saying to dd who is going to school where she doesn't know anyone:

Try everything, talk to everyone and smile.

Am excited for her starting this next chapter. She is a bit shy but gets stuck in and secondary is just full of lots of different experiences, subjects and clubs.

Great advice coolas about being tired and 3 week dip

Coming at it from the other end, my PFB is about to start Y11.

She loved her middle school and was very anxious about going to a big secondary school. She has loved mostly every minute. Despite it being a massive school, they seem to have a good grasp of DCs strengths and weaknesses. Also, despite it being big and scary, the kids seem to thrive on being treated much more like grown ups and it truly has been the making of DD.

Wishing everyone lots of luck, parents and DCs. They'll all make you proud

my oldest starts at her selective secondary next wednesday. we have done the trial runs on the bus, been and got the school uniform, labelled it, got the stationary, labelled it (dd not the most organised child... taking bets on how quickly she'll lose it all!!) and got the hair app booked for tuesday.

she didnt know anyone, but did a transition summer school and made a couple of friends so feels quite confident now!

loving Coolas posts. what a caring teacher to ring parwnts and let them know how the first day is going

Oh yes 1st day back piccie... this is the first (and last) time my 3 are all at the same school as they did infant and junior before.

So I need a 1, 2, 3, black blazers and shiny black shoes, tidy hair and neatly tied red and green ties. The fact that DS1 (yr 11) and DD (yr 9) don't have to be in until 11.30 will cut no ice with me - they need to be photo ready at 8.15

Oh yes, PastBy you still have to do it.
My last one was taken last year, as dd2 started secondary - dd1 was starting Yr10 and ds Yr13, but they still had to be on one.

It's the law.

Really useful reminder Coolas that from our DC's perspective it's a busy, exciting time. Thank you.

I hadn't thought about it be tiring - so during September I'll try to ensure early nights and will be alert to any 'settling in' pangs from DD1 about 3 weeks in.

From my persepctive - my worries aren't so much for DD1 (although some of her close friends from primary are off to other schools - she is going with a few good friends) but my worries revolve around whether the school is really 'good' or not (the school is just out of special measures).

Having just heard the headlines this a.m. about little social mobility and the elite are largely prviately educated (e.g. www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-28953881) - I can assure you that as a parent it's that kind of thing and hoping our local comprehensive isn't too awful that ties my stomach into knots.

However life is a funny journey and although 'what you know' deeply matters - your personality/ enthusiasm, luck and who you know also play a huge part.

I'd also love to get the usual 'first day of school in new uniform' photo - but DD1 may not be so willing this year.

My younger daughter starts tomorrow, year 7 and sixth form only, very excited! Doesn't know anyone but looking forward to making friends and all the grown up bits, buses, lunch money, own key etc

I have finally got everything ticked off my list and labelled.

My DD is walking five minutes to school longtallsally, so chances of following her without being spotted are non-existent. Will just have to wait patiently for her to return home.

Great posts by Coolas Not a secondary teacher, but have 3 in (or now gone thru) secondary and she's spot on.

Glad to hear it, mychildren! Have just remembered following ds1 on his first school trip for the first 10 miles or so on a coach - at a safe distance, of course! Absolutely fine, as long as they don't know until at least 20 years later

longtallsally, don't worry. As far as DD is concerned I am exceptionally excited for her, which I am, she doesn't need to know that I feel a little sad that she is moving on to a new stage. I say about being a gibbering wreck somewhat tongue in cheek. It is so sad that your mum couldn't be happy for you, or at least not share with you that she wasn't.

HSMMaCM My mother in law recently admitted that she used to occasionally follow DH's school bus to make sure he got there ok. He never knew until now (about 20 years later). Prior to that he had been all "Oh, yes well of course when I was 11 I was getting the bus at 7am all by myself and not getting home until 5pm."

I followed DD's bus on her first day in yr 7. Saw her get off, holding her head high and matching confidently into school.

Please do pretend to enjoy the adventure of your kids going off to secondary school, for their sakes. My mum was one of those crying - the night before she was sniffing into her handky, saying that I would not be her baby after tomorrow!! Apparently the next stage of my life was beginning, but it was all about her and her feelings

They will, on the whole, be fine. Schools do a marvellous job of settling them in and looking after them. There will be issues and problems down the line: first detention, first kiss, first heartbreak, first trip abroad without parents, but if you have a good relationship with your dcs they will know that you are there to support them and you will go through the adventures and the problems together, as they become independent young people.

Fingers crossed for you all on Tuesday.

My 1st to start high school on tues... She will be fine I think. Her two best friends are in the same form as her, which helps, and she loved her transition day. Tues is yr7 and sixth form only so they gave chance to get orientated before the huge yr 11s appear.

She had braces yesterday so those 1st day pics will have a mouthful of metal in them!

Mine is starting next week too. he is very very excited and doesn't seem to be worried at all. I on the other hand......

he was only 11 last week

however he is VERY confident and has his big brother to look after him. dS1 is going into year 10 and is 6 foot 3-if ds2 gets any grief then ds1 will be a useful ally i think!

Another one with a y7 starter - she's nervous but looking forward to it. She doesn't know anyone that she'll have classes with. Travelling is ok as she will go on the bus with her big sister (who has already told her that they won't be sitting together after the first day as dd3 will make her own bus friends!).

DS2 is my last (of 3) - my baby at secondary!

One of DD's (yr 9 now) mates, who knows DS2 through being in a play with him earlier this year, realised he was coming up and said to DD "Oh that's great, [DS2] is immense!"

Got visions of him now with an adoring fanclub of 13 yo girls... he is rather cute and smaller than the average 11yo as well

I'll be a mess next Thursday, and the worst thing is I am not back at work till the Monday so I have all day to panic, witter, worry...

My DD starts next wed, it's an all girls school which she wasn't initially thrilled about but she loved it on her open day, she has a few girls in her form from her junior class so she's not really worried, she is going to be walking with her best friend on her 1st day as they have told us we aren't needed, they've been doin trial runs together..... So yes come next week my daughter will have a new sense of freedom and her own house key