Y7 in Sep 2019 - support

DD is in Year 7 at the moment. Schools do this differently so you may not know until they start, but she has to do quite a bit of homework on the computer and then print it out for marking. This is easier if you have a printer at home although she can print things out at school as well.

DD's school has a two week timetable - this means knowing which week it is, as well as which day of the week it is, is important. DD's is printed in her planner and is also on the school's website so it is easy to find out the answer.

Friendships have fluctuated a bit this year which is inevitable because they were a new group of children. Just encourage your child to be nice to others and to join in with clubs and other activities at the start so that they meet different people.

Is DC (not) looking forward to it. - DS2 is pretending to be cool about it but I think he's more excited than he looks
Is DC (not) ready for it. - He thinks so, I'm not sure
Are you (not) apprehensive about it. Very. He is disabled so I'm mostly worried about the size of the place and him getting around without falling over.
Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute. Got most of the uniform from his big brother, just need tie, pe top and stationary
How have the transition days been going. He's missing them because he has a tummy bug
Anything else that is relevant. DS1 (now year 8) is very excited about ds2 joining him at secondary. He is planning on looking after ds2, introducing him to all his friends etc. He's so sweet. DS2 is not impressed by this and is planning to avoid ds1 at school!

Hi
My only son is starting secondary school in September and tbh I'm worried about him being picked on ...he's very sweet natured and sensitive.
How do I go about making sure he sticks up for himself?
I cant afford boxing or self defence classes at the moment as I am a single mum on disability unfortunately!
Please help!

My DD is both looking forward to secondary and very ready. She’s bored of primary school now and excited about doing more subjects and the far better facilities secondary have.

I don’t think she’s at all apprehensive, she tends to just get on with things and not overthink them (very much unlike her mother). I’m mostly worried about her making friends, she tends to be both a bit reserved and give no fucks what other people think of her. In a way that’s an admirable quality but she can come off as aloof. There are five other girls from her current school going (its a single sex school) and she’ll be in a form with two of them, unfortunately none of them are her closest friends though.

The school is less than half a mile away, her current primary is over a mile and she’s more than capable of getting herself to and from there. Not having to worry about bus or train journeys or long walks on cold, dark evenings is a huge relief.

We’ve got all the required logo uniform because the school outfitters were doing an early bird 10 percent off day. The rest, along with shoes everything else I’ll get over the summer.

We’ve had one evening meeting for parents and girls which covered the basics, the full transition day is this Thursday.

I like the idea of working through some "What if" scenarios. Thank you for these suggestions.

My son is still pretty much ignoring the whole concept of changing school but has had his transition day which he really enjoyed. He is in a form group (8 form entry) with two other boys from his class one of which is a close friend which I think he's happy about (I certainly am).

DP and I have been with DS to a Parent's "meet the teacher" event too which we found really helpful. The form teacher greeted all the children by name as they arrived which I found comforting (and very impressive given that she had spent only one day with them!)

All of the leavers events are starting to happen at primary at the moment: learning lines for the play, track requests for the leavers party and they got their leaver's hoodies this week. I think things like this are helping to cement the idea that the end of primary is almost here.

Most students (especially in Year 7) keep their phones in their bags- ideally switched off, or at least on silent. A separate pocket just for things like the phone and house key is probably a good idea so it doesn't accidentally get pulled out in lessons.

Kids do tend to find their "tribes" during Year 7, but this can take a bit longer if they are less good at fitting in. Encourage them to join clubs etc- this is a great way to meet people outside their tutor group and year group and can be a safe space at lunchtime etc if there are friendship issues.

I agree going through "what if" scenarios is really important e.g. "What if the bus is late?" "What if you miss the bus?" "What if you lose XYZ thing?" as this can be where Y7s come a bit unstuck, even if cope well normally. Make sure they know where they can find an adult before or after school just in case there is a problem.

I agree that it's important to go through the threshold of when to tell/involve an adult in things. At secondary age, telling a teacher about minor rule breaking, lying or minor fall outs isn't the "done thing" BUT there are times when it's OK to/important to tell someone e.g. if another student is talking about self-harm, for example or if a comment has made them feel really uncomfortable or if there is bullying going on. Teachers can only help if they know, and because tutors only see children for about 20 minutes each day, they often won't pick up on things the way a primary teacher would. Remind them that they can talk to any trusted adult in the school about things if they aren't comfortable with their tutor.

DS carries his phone in his trousers pocket. They can't have it on in school, so I am guessing it is going to live in his backpack.

Thanks for starting the thread. DS is starting in September and I don't know if we're ready or not! We've got most of the uniform sorted, but I haven't heard anything yet about stationery, calculators, pencil cases etc, so I've no idea what they need yet! Hope I find out soon.

DS is quite a home-kid, not wildly sociable, so I'm not sure how he'll adapt. Because of location he's going to get a lift there and back each day, so we don't have to do the independent transport thing - which I think has both advantages and drawbacks. He's really looking forward to school, but I think that's more about the new subjects and the clubs - I don't think he's really thought much about the friendship side of things. He doesn't know anyone else going to the school, but he doesn't seem too daunted at the moment. The tips above on how to get along if you're a bit socially awkward are really helpful, thank you. I also love the tip to think about a homework area - that hadn't occurred to me, so we must do that.

Question on boys and phones - where do they actually carry them? DS has had a phone for a few months, but he never takes it out of the house at the moment; because of where we live (and the type of personality he is) he doesn't really see friends independently much, and only at each other's houses, so he never has any reason to take his phone out with him. It's too big to fit easily in a pocket - so what do they do with them? I guess at school he'll have his bag with him all the time so he can keep it in that.

looking forward to it here, she knows the walking route, need to sort out a bus pass and check she knows what to do so that she can get the bus if it is heavy rain or something. got uniform, pencil case, calculator etc so feel pretty organised really at the moment.

My eldest DS starts high school in September (well July really!). He leaves his junior school on 5th July and the last two weeks of term are spent at high school. They wear their “old” school uniform and do lots of fun transition activities.

He’s quite excited about it but I am nervous! I think it’s the buses that he’s apprehensive about. Hoping it’s on time, not too full etc.

We’ve got all the uniform apart from PE kit. Bought double amounts of pencil cases etc to cover for losses!

It’s just nerve wracking thinking about the size of the school. Year 7 alone has more children than the whole of his junior school.

My ds is attending his school for an hour a week, for 6 weeks, seems to be helping... as far as I'm aware they use that time to have a tour and a chat.
I've got his uniform, just need shoes, gum guard, shin pads, bag and stationery. I don't think I've received a stationery list.

Apparently all the hw is on a website/app, so he can do it on his phone, the family laptop or his iPad. I imagine I will end up getting him a cheap laptop for Xmas.

26/30 of his class are going to that secondary school so I think he'll be ok. However, since his sats his year have been on some sort of jolly, no homework and not much learning, so the change of pace may be a shock..

DS1 is starting secondary in Sept (not UK but a British school) and is very excited! A little anxious too as he doesn’t know a single person going to the same school.......

He’s had one induction day so far and really enjoyed it so is ready to properly start now. He’s been in a lovely but small primary and is desperate for better sport and more children. His secondary is an 8 form entry so a big change, I’m sure it will be an adjustment for us all.

Off to get uniform next week

Ooh, glad I found this. Thanks for starting it and for the advice posted:
Is DC (not) looking forward to it. Yes, super excited though a bit apprehensive at times
Is DC (not) ready for it. Yes, she really is. She's outgrown her tiny school where we currently live and is ready for a new challenge. But she's also v dreamy and forgetful so it's not going to be 100% smooth sailing!
Are you (not) apprehensive about it. Both in equal measure
Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute. Def last-minute. DD is going to a school with no uniform so that keeps it simple, but we're moving back home from abroad between now and September and so things are a bit chaotic.
How have the transition days been going. She's missed them because we are abroad until school holidays. We're all a bit concerned about that because she hasn't even been able to visit the school and look around other than on the banding assessment day. So there are many many unknowns. She did just have a chat with the head of year on the phone and that went quite well
Anything else that is relevant. DD is in the older half of the year but is quite a young 11 in many ways. Good at talking to adults and making friends but still into her teddies and whatnot, very happy playing with younger kids etc. She hasn't got a phone yet, and I'm a bit reluctant to give her one but I also don't want her to be excluded because she hasn't got one. Hadn't even thought of the tracker app thing.

My ds started last September and agree with all the suggestions on here lol. We've lost ties, pencil cases and loads of pe kit this year.
We've been through loads of glue sticks, all his classwork seems to be done on worksheets which then get stuck in his workbooks, we also got a big roll of plastic backing to cover all workbooks with.

On transition day and first couple of days there he got phone numbers and xbox passwords of lads in his class he liked and that helped him get to know people.

We got a big calender for the kitchen wall and I got a copy of his timetable, I've an app with most of his homework on and he puts it in his planner but he got a bit overwhelmed at first trying to organise it. Putting it on a calender helped him prioritise it and see when it was due in.

The first couple of weeks school held a couple of mornings with activities for parents to attend, one was a bake off. I went and found it really helpful as a lot of senior staff attended and joined in so I could put faces to names as contact with secondary is sparse compared with primary.

Finally lol although ds was looking forward to it I kept telling him everybody would be feeling the same as him x

If you have a child who is less good at picking up social cues, then talk to them about how expectations change at secondary.

• ignoring rule breaking that doesn't impact them (unless bullying or something else serious)
• knowing whether/when to involve an adult
• not acting like Hermione leaping out of her chair to answer every question
• being 'respectful' of the upper years - not over familiar without good grounds

Scaffold being organised to start with. e,g. Checking timetable to ensure correct books packed, planning when to do homework etc. For many, many, kids you will be able to drop back quite quickly within the first weeks. However if your DC needs longer then keep going. My DD1 turned out to have dyspraxia...

Take a copy of their timetable and have it up easily visible somewhere, eg on the fridge. We have an cardboard arrow blu-tacked on pointing out which week number it is (most schools have a 2 week timetable).

Thanks for starting this thread OP.

My niece would love a family unicorn

My son starts secondary in September. There are about 12 from his school going including three of his besties plus children he knows from other clubs he does, so that's fortunate. He's winter born, outgoing, bright and NT so no concerns from those perspectives (luckily).

He has been ignoring the thought of leaving his [beloved] primary but they had a visit from the secondary's "transition leader" last week which seems to have been well enjoyed. DS will spend the day there in 2 weeks time. They also run a 3 day "transition camp" during the school holidays for the new year 7's to get to know each other and the school. Which I think is a good idea.

In terms of what prep. I've done - I have ordered some school uniform, opened him a student current account, paid for his locker, purchased the iPad and installed all the required apps. He got a phone for his birthday. The school is a little over a mile away but there is a bus he could take if the weather is bad. We'll spend more time on the journeys over the summer.

I'm a little apprehensive about it. Mainly because I'm a control freak and I know everything about, and everyone at, his primary and that's obviously going to change!

It will be great; the school has just had a wonderful first Ofsted report, the parent survey results on the Ofsted site are all really good and the extra curricular clubs are awesome (I'm considering self-identifying as a Year 7 so that I can go too )

Muchtoomuchtodo I was ever so impressed by your family unicorn.

Unicorn = uniform !!

Is DC (not) looking forward to it. Yes, he can’t wait!

Is DC (not) ready for it.. Even as a summer born boy, he’s more than ready for it

Are you (not) apprehensive about it. No, dc 1 is currently in year 8 so we’ve been through this once.

Have you got equipment, etc, sorted yet, or are you leaving it until the summer hols/last minute.. He’ll have whatever unicorn we can pass down from dc1 and I’ll order the rest in the next month. Pencil case, stationary and maths equipment etc will be sorted during the summer holiday.

How have the transition days been going.. Great. Ours do their first residential trip with all the other feeder schools in year 5 and another in year 6. Transition days started at the start of year 6 and they had their last one of 5 last week. They now know their registration forms and form tutors and are raring to go.

Anything else that is relevant.. Just got to get through the leavers assembly now!

I forgot to add, all of her friends at primary are going to different schools though so they'll all be in the same boat.

DD fluctuates because while she is looking forward to some aspects, she gets anxious in new situations. Currently she doesn't want to go. I'm being really cheerful about it because I know she'll love the range of lessons and activities/clubs on offer. We will start to order uniform etc in July after her induction days.

However... she's my PFB and inside I am DREADING it. She's the only one going from her school because of where we live and (here's the kicker) I am a teacher there! So I KNOW it's a good school, I KNOW she'll thrive there. It's just the thought of her going from a tiny primary with about 100 children in the whole school to a largeish secondary with over 200 just in year 7.

DS is very excited. He is totally ready.
I am so anxious. None of his friends go there, but it is meant to be a superb school.

There is a whole page of uniform and other requirements, so it will take a little while for me to get there. Uniform orders need to go in next month.

Rather unexpectedly they will have a couple of compulsory(ish) sports sessions in school in August, so holiday childcare is a mess.

DS loved the first taster day, the next one is this week.

Thank you for your advice reluctantbrit and iwantavuvuzela.
DS already loses everything. [sigh]

Make a small budget for losses!

From walking to primary which was 5 minutes, the transition of a 30 minute bus ride and a big school meant that DD lost just about everything that could be lost in the first 3 months - house keys; pe kits; bus pass; fob; school shirts; winter coat you name it! I did label everything and had to go to a massive lost & found day where i got most stuff back but it took about 5 months!

So i realised that this was part of the transition was "losing stuff" - i have a tracker on her phone so i know where she is whilst on the bus - and has helped me locate her mislaid phone twice - once in the middle of the park!

I bought too much uniform - I should have bought just enough for the first month or so - DD went from a trouser wearing child to only wearing skirts (so trousers unworn) - school very warm so long sleeved shirts unworn, only short sleeved shirts worn....

DD is going to a secondary school with Hearing Impaired Unit and has EHCP, not many kids from her school are going to the same school. Transition day is next week. Not brought anything yet but starting to think about uniform as some has to be ordered online and takes a while to come.
I am nervous about her starting and particularly her getting to and from school on her own.