Have we got a year 7 support thread this year?

DS2 is going to the secondary school 5 minutes walk from here, which I'm glad of. I did want to take him to look at others but he;'s joining his brother who will be starting year 9 and he's very familiar with the school.

DD was offered her school off the waiting list a few weeks into the summer holiday. She was settled on the school she’d been allocated, as were we, and is peeved at the change. Gosh I hope it works out. She starts on 3 but I’ve no idea if it’s just year 7 back or the whole school.
No uniform and she can be there in 10 minutes, it’s in her ‘hood!

DS will be getting 1 or 2 buses or walking 45 min (35 home - there's a steep hill). Did the journey yesterday to buy uniform.
I got him the official school backpack to save a shopping trip.

3 other kids he knows but not well are going there. Form tutor seems friendly. It's a shame the school cafe and library won't be open so I took Ds to the Lidl opposite so he knows where the pastries are (I predict someone in the class will start a snack business if each class is bubbling).

Still need a dumbphone, stationery, and to get him to try on white shirts.

Buses are only taking 30 not 70 passengers which is why he may need to give up and walk.

He's also autistic so the lack of being able to hang out in quiet areas at school may be a problem, but thankfully he has an excellent sense of direction and is used to buses and accepts wearing surgical masks. They aren't running after school clubs to start but I'm told the SN homework club should still happen. That, or it doesn't get done...

Thank you @KangarooLady. I don’t want to get it wrong.

My son starts on the 3rd too. He won’t turn 11 until the 31st Aug, I can’t believe he’s going to ‘big school!’
We’ve order uniform but need to sort shoes and bag. Can anyone recommend a robust backpack that is deemed cool enough for secondary school?

My DD starts on the 2nd.

Ordered the eye watering expensive uniform - which hasn't arrived yet!! have purchased shoes and shirts elsewhere. Should probably look at the letter with stuff on to see what else she needs.

I think I'm in a bit of denial about it all, given the circumstances - she hasn't been in education since March! and all of a sudden they are going back full time! I'm not anxious for her, I'm anxious for me - that it won't happen and I'll have to endure more home education

We were told before the summer they were intending to run clubs, but I am not sure if it will actually happen or not, he would love to do all the sports activities

Joyce my dd is definitely a big fish in a (very) small pond, and is ready to go to secondary.

We've not had confirmation of after school clubs yet, my dd is very sporty so is really looking forward to this element of secondary, so I hope they get going soon.

Our school has the majority of pupils bussed in each day (massive, extremely rural catchment) so there won't be staggered start times but they will have to wear masks on the bus.

@KangarooLady I do hope she is ok - some of her friends seem to have already grown up so much during summer... she’s not shy or anything, but she has quite young tastes (she’s quite small too so hopefully can get away with it without being teased too much).

(At least the out of school club is restarting soon so she won’t be completely missing out)

Mine is a footballer and was most pleased to find out the school had a girls team. However it’s a no for clubs for us too at least until October half term, we were told. Fingers crossed everything goes ok and they can start them.

Yes we are also hoping the clubs get going soon as I think it helps a lot with making friends. Ds has picked out a few clubs he was intending to join.

Can I join in? DD also starting Y7, on the 3rd. She doesn’t seem either excited or anxious, which I find a bit unsettling, but (1) I think 29 of her class are going to the same school and (2) I don’t think she realises how big it is (even though we did visit last October). Uniform was, thankfully, about the same £ as primary school as same supplier and no blazers or anything expensive. She’s going on the school bus and the pass arrived last week.

I’m a bit anxious about it all, things like missing the bus (no public transport option so I’d have to fetch her), her being a bit naive/uncool - she’s a very young 11... but I’m sure I’m overthinking it all.

Ds starts on 3rd September, only the year 7s in that day to help them get orientated. He won’t know a single other child there but he’s very excited anyway.

It’s totally the other side of town through horrible traffic so we are hoping he’s got a place on the school bus (he’s top of the waiting list). The school have said a couple of kids might drop out if the bus - fingers crossed!

DD goes on Friday 4th - only Y7's are in that day and the school are treating it as their transition day, which she is pleased about.

We're now just waiting for the official stuff coming through next week about the routines, adjusted start/finish times and buses, etc. I'm a teacher so can't be off on her first day but DH has booked a day's holiday to make sure she gets to where she needs to be - be it straight to school or the bus, if it's running that day - and she makes it home too!

We have all the uniform and she's just tried it on today. I shed a little tear - in fact I was sobbing! She looked so grown up. Not sure I'm ready for it!

Glad to hear everyone is sorted for travel. I wondered how Covid would affect public transport to schools and if this might mean ‘full’ buses and longer travel times.

Wow , Girlsonfilm; your DD has a mighty big change ahead, but sounds like she’s not phased at all. My DD varies between wishing she was still at Primary and chomping at the bit counting the days to stating secondary. I am a bit sad that it won’t be a full school day for her due to Covid, (which will probably mean more homework), and that there won’t be any clubs - dance, drama, choir etc. All the fun stuff is on hold sadly.

We'll be dropping my dd off at the bus stop and she'll get the bus alone from there.

My eldest dd starts at secondary school on 9th Sept. She's going from a tiny village school (less than 30 children), to a huge school with 1800 pupils, the only other child from her primary will be in her tutor group.

We've been to get the uniform today; we've also more pe kit than actual uniform.

She seems pretty laid back about it (it's just me that is fretting!).

DS is my oldest and starts Year 7 on 2nd Sept. He's so excited, bless him.
He only has 3 other children going from his school but they've put one in the same class, so he'll have a familiar face.
Gosh the uniform - why so many bits of school sports kit?! Three different pairs of shoes too
He was going to do a mix of being driven (DH works there) and bus for independence, but for now we will stick with lifts and he will have to find something to do if DH has a meeting or something!

@JoyceByersWasRight just found out DD has got a bus space. The school had originally suggested from a covid viewpoint that we should all drive them to school to increase social distancing. However, knowing what the traffic chaos up at the school is like, we'll opt for the bus! DD is fine with that-- the bus stop is 5min walk away from our house.