Starting Year 7

Have done the parent visit but still not sure what that was all about. Anyway.

Funny how the student helpers talked to me and not to DS. Odd to have someone talking to me about "your child" while he's standing there perfectly capable of talking. Also if one more person refers to me as "mum" I might scream. Luckily I think I don't have to see anyone or do anything apart from forking out cash for the next couple of months.

OK OK I have an attitude problem. >

Oh, obviously I didn't

Oops pressed post instead of preview

Anyway, DD is in a lovely primary class and is good friends with many of the boys, however none of them are in her tutor/registration class in secondary. I know she will see some of them in lessons but I'm feeling a bit sad that these friendships may not be as strong in secondary especially as the two boys she is very friendly with are unlikely to be in any of her lessons.

DS ripped buttons off his blazer the first week at school. Ripped his trousers just after the 1st half term. This was from playing football during lunch & recess.
Has needed a new shirt almost every term as the (previously) white shirt collars & sleeves discolour from the sun lotion he needs (very sunny here).

I'm going to read the directives about uniforms next week after we've done the parents' visit... Someone told me you could just buy one and sew the badge on. But will give it the full power of my considerable mind next week.

Upto do you have to buy Blazers from a specialist uniform shop or can you buy a bog standard one? Dd is really petite, probably aged 9-10 clothes but luckily it's a black blazer than I can buy from anywhere. I know the skirt issue isn't the end of the world but I can't help think it looks awful.

At that age (and even now) I like my skirts really short. I'm in a quite respectable profession. So I'm sure it's not the end of the world. :)

I'm more worried about how many expensive blazers we need and how quickly DS would chew through the sleeves ...

Muddling I really wish dd new school would do the same. I saw another group of girls yesterday and I just can't see how their parents can let them leave the house with skirts up to their knickers! Another local school who have implemented their skirt have made it compulsory for just yr 7s this year then the whole school by next September which seems a fair compromise. The skirts aren't too expensive either - around £10.

Dd has her transition day next Wednesday and we are invited next Tuesday evening to meet her form group and her teacher. I think I'm more nervous than her!

When I say this year, I mean for this September. Bit of a pain for parents of the current Y7 who had to buy uniform last year and were probably hoping to get at least another year out of it.

honeyandfizz, the school DS is going to banned skirts so even the girls had to wear trousers due to the belts you describe. This year they've reintroduced skirts, but it has to be the school skirt with the school badge on. Sounds a fair compromise. DD will go there in a few years too, and as she prefers skirts she wasn't best pleased with the trousers only diktat, so has been pleased to hear about the current change. :)

No arguement here it's interesting hearing different opinions. I hate to see them dressing sexy (which is what they aim for) such young girls too . Oh well I'll just have to make sure dd dresses appropriately and doesn't suffer to peer pressure.

But I think there are probably already plenty of uniform threads going so let's not start an argument here. (Not that we have ...)

honeyandfizz I'm quite the opposite. I like a lax uniform rule. In fact I would like it better if they just STOP telling people what to wear ...

Uptoapoint I would love that. The school where my dd will be going to in September clearly do not implement their uniform policy anywhere near strict enough. I am not lying or exaggerating when I say that I am constantly horrified at the sight of 99% of the girls who attend the school. Think tight black skirt (similar material to leggings) which are so short it's beyond a joke, probably around 10cm of skirt. I cannot understand how the school turn a blind eye. They also seem to wear black trainers. It looks shabby.

This school is very over subscribed, is ofsted outstanding and is about to start a complete rebuild. They are pushing it as having excellent standards but with kids dressing so appallingly I can't help wander if this reflects on the school. Another local school has introduced its own school skirt which is compulsory from this year. I wander if other comps have the same problem?!

Great thread! Lots of tips. Looking forward to hearing how our "babies" have settled in come September :)

DS1's school also had a visit from the Representative of The Best School Ever On Earth. They were told that The Best School Ever takes the adherence to school uniform rules very seriously indeed. I suspect it was targeted at DS1 who looks the Scruffiest Child Ever.

We've got induction week starting tomorrow. The kids have to make their own way there and back. It's the having to get up earlier which is going to be a struggle. Especially for DS!

We have induction day tomorrow. Someone from the high school has been to visit DS and the other boys going to that school, at their primary school and his visit was very reassuring for DS.

Can I join?

Picking up tips about organisation. Not sure we'd be up to magazine files for days of the week though. We have school visit in a couple of weeks so will trawl through the threads to make a List.

Just thought I'd go back to this thread. Had the parents visit to the school, got the information about what's expected of the pupils and ordered the uniform. DS is really into the whole thing, which is really good, and he has a few friends in his tutor group too.

I've been letting DD ( currently Y6) go to school on her own in mornings when DH works shifts - I leave 8:10 she leaves 8.30 or 8.40 is a 5 min walk to school . We have been practicing leaving her on her own for an hour or so at a time with clear instructions - she hates our local after school club and is much happier to be given the responsibility. Next step she will get her own key and be at home a couple of times a month after school in summer term. I figure we both have to get used to it and DH is a nightmare too as she is an only child and PFB! She go outs in our local town in Saturdays to spend pocket money and has a mobile for emergency contact. We use teh train almost weekly with her due to reduced travel for DH job so she knows what to do in various situations there....will have to practice the routes though!

I already have a really useful box set aside with hanging files and a travel pass carrier that can be tied to her school bag!

It is a strangely exciting time seeing them grow up and mature!

When DD started Y7 I stopped childcare for her. She had to walk home and had about 2 hours at home alone before either DH or I got home. I panicked a bit about it at first (and used to get her to text me when she got home). I also used to phone her at about 5pm. Now she is in Y9 I only get a text if she wants something. She now also makes her own dinner most days too.

Bought the first piece of uniform today - twin pack of black trousers in the Sainsbury's Tu 25% off promotion.

Just need a good deal on a blazer and socks, the rest has to be bought from the school as far as I know.

Does private schools have transition day on July too?

I thought ds1 was pretty self sufficient and independent in yr6, but I was rather amazed how much input from me he needed in the first few weeks of secondary.

Seriously, my top tip to parents is to plan to have as much free time after school as possible in the first few weeks.

Every night we chatted about his day, talked about the school routines and issues that had come up; checked what homework had come in and how it was recorded, helped him organise his resources and school materials at home, talked about issues surrounding lunches, breaks, PE lessons, bus-catching, handling cash, managing a damp coat on wet days, etc etc etc.

You might think this was over the top, but it was really necessary: there's a lot to take in at secondary and if children are not organised, it's a real barrier to learning.

It definitely paid off, as once we were through those first few weeks, he was great and just got on with it himself with the routines and systems that we put in place. He never forgot PE kit, never forgot homework, etc. We've been pretty hands-off ever since and he's in yr13 now!