My PFB is starting secondary school in September

Agree with CamelHump about boys wanting to wear trainers instead of school shoes so the latter get "stolen". At our school they go into breaktime detention for uniform infractions and therefore can't play football so they soon realise it is smarter to save the trainers just for breaktime, but often not before mum and dad have shelled out for a second pair of school shoes.

Smelly, you may be lucky to avoid it. If she were going with a bit group from primary you might find that they have a big bust up in the first term. In contrast DD made a new BBF on her first day, and had the bust up in the second term. I am so glad we are beyond that.

Our experience was that there were Primary School briefings. One girl was giving DD a dreadful time in Yr 7, so bad that a couple of other girls reported it to the Head of Year. DD was a firm advocate of the "no snitch" rule so despite being asked directly by the HOY, refused to say anything. Finally HOY effectively told her that they knew the girl had "previous" and so DD would be believed. I think DD stayed silent but it was useful to know when something happened a month or so later that clearly transgressed bullying policy and required intervention. (And this was state primary to private secondary.)

Name all of his clothes. Tell him anything that gets lost will be paid for out of his own pocket money - this will incentivise him to keep a close eye on his things and to check he has everything before leaving the classroom / bus / changing room. As a secondary teacher, I am flabbergasted by the lack of care the students take with their things, (but at least I get plenty of exercise running after them through the corridors with their coats / calculators / iPhones (yes, really!)

The worst culprits are the boys who are in such a rush to change into football boots at breaktime that they leave their school shoes absolutely anywhere...then tell their parents they were "stolen". Luckily, parents are too wise to fall for that one!

Reading this I'm so pleased that ds is attending a week's summer school at the secondary he's starting at in September. The school is running it specifically for children going into year 7.

He's the only child from his school going to this particular, very big, comprehensive and the intake is very different to his primary (we live in a very poor inner city area which is 80% non white - his primary school reflected it. His secondary is in a leafy suburb).

He's made some friends and is starting to find his way around. They're also going to take them on a trip out.

Such a great thing for the school to do. The summer school cost £20 a day but was free to kids on fsm which makes it pretty accessible I think.

needmoresleep Dd confessed that one of the only two girls she is going to Secondary with has apparently said to another friend (going to a different school) that she doesn't like her much ...she got a phone call from another girl today I have said the best thing is that she is polite and friendly to everyone and that she ignore the 'do you like so and so conversations'. I envisaged this happening so on the school journey she is buddying up with my close friend's DS. I find it all really annoying can't wait for more of it to come

Can I join too? Year 7 in September. We've bought some of the school uniform ...

Well I have already benefitted from liaison with primary that must have gone 'Lonecat's Ex\ the kitten's dad is a disorganised twat who has the ability to f**k just about anything he is involved in up'. There is a school trip with in 4 weeks of the start of secondary (overnight team building thing) which he said he would said the permission slip and cheque in for. DD returned from last contact in tears saying he hasn't done it and I've missed the date and won't get to go. I emailed the HOY who has added her to the list as long as he gets the cheque in this week when I explained.
Probably due the fact that her Dad has the organizational skills of a goldfish DD is super organized and spent an hour on Sunday packing her pencil case, geometry set and calculator into her new school bag. We still have a month to go.

school will have liaised with the primary. They are also likely to have got the low down on you - how supportive you are; if they need to be aware of an acrimonious split; if you drop your kids off late; if you take term time holidays etc. You are not a totally unknown entity, normally

That has got me worried. DS's experience at primary has not been good and I fear they might have labelled me one of Those Parents in my attempts to make things better for him and the other pupils. Was hoping for a fresh start at secondary school where I hope never to have to darken their doorstep!

Thanks re velcro shoes

My DSs had/will have Velcro, not a problem.
DS1 didn't learn to tie laces until he was 14 (sigh). We used lock laces for PE shoes once he got past size 3/4.

www.jonesbootmaker.com

All of the school shoes for older boys (up to size 7) at www.jonesthebootmaker.com are Velcro; loads at www.charlesclinkard.co.uk and Next too - people must be buying them. Better to have a Year 7 ready to run off to lunch/class with the other boys than stuck on his own fiddling with laces.

Be prepared for a very tired child.
Add 90 mins per day onto an average primary school day.

Ooh, just place marking as another one with a (disorganised, not-very-cool, prone to tears) PFB who can't possibly be ready for secondary school! We gave him his own set of keys the day before yesterday and he is SOOOOO proud of them - it's making me a little sniffy!

Still no sign that DS who is slightly dyspraxic will be able to tie laces by September and year 7. Apart from loads of practice any advice? Velcro is a no I assume. Trainers we have lock laces. For something so simple that I got taught at nursery school, it's a right pain! It just didn't matter a year ago when his feet were smaller and Velcro shoes still the norm.

Brollies ok, even everybody seems to wear coats in winter in our school!! (but they do have lockers). Encourage child to go to lunch clubs if they feel lonely, there are tons at our school. Most kids have touchscreen phones (sorry!)

@Wizzler: it's social death to have anything but a touchscreen Phone. You can get basic ones for £30-£40 so no really good reason not to.

I know it's true to write "It will all be fine" for most kids, but DS is not most kids (sigh). Some parents really do have valid reasons to be braced for a rough ride, at least occasionally if not most of secondary.

I know 2 stories at different schools of recent yr11s breaking arms of yr7s. I don't in the slightest expect that to happen to my yr7, but can't pretend it didn't happen.

Thanks Camel!